By Nadia Ramlagan
More than 263,000 West Virginia kids will soon return to school, and experts said it is crucial for parents to stay up-to-date with doctors’ visits and set healthy habits for success in the new academic year.
Kelli Caseman, executive director of the group Think Kids West Virginia, said it is important to ensure children get enough sleep, which can be challenging when families have to be at bus stops early in the morning. She added parents should be aware the start of school can be a time of excitement for kids but also a source of stress and anxiety.
“One of the most important things that we can give them is our attention,” Caseman recommended. “And to help kind of dismantle their concerns and promote resilience and self-confidence.”
A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found four in 10 parents with children younger than 18 said they are either “extremely or very worried” they might struggle with anxiety or depression. Parents are now more concerned about their child’s mental health than physical threats or the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer and executive vice president of UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, said annual well-child visits, often required for participation in school sports, offer a chance to discuss mental health with a pediatrician or family physician.
“They’re also checking in on emotional and behavioral health needs and setting them up for success for the rest of the school year,” Randall explained.
Caseman added good physical health starts at home. She encouraged parents to go over ways to reduce the spread of colds and flu with their child.
“The correct way to sneeze, washing your hands, the importance of not spreading germs,” Caseman outlined. “Because, as we well know, that’s when you see a lot of sickness in rural communities.”
One recent study found spread of the flu during peak seasons caused around 9,000 school closures, affecting 4 million students nationwide between 2011 and 2022.
