Happy, healthy kids don’t happen by accident. Every parent knows that. Setting your kid up to be successful and productive (while also allowing them to be joyful and carefree) is a responsibility that requires a bit of finesse. We don’t take it lightly.
The back-to-school season provides a yearly opportunity to step back and take a look at our routines and systems, and then make sure that we are doing our best to ensure that our kids are at their best.
During this time, lists abound, and you’ve got a lot to do — but the school supply list and enrollment checklists aren’t as important to you as your desire to make sure the little people you love most in the world are in good health and feeling great. Nobody sends you an organized list of ways to make sure that your back-to-school to-do list includes planning practical ways to support your child’s health and happiness.
That’s why we’ve created the ultimate back-to-school checklist for a happy and healthy kid. These five checklist items are your bottom-line must-haves for sending your kid back to school at their most excellent.
1. A head-to-toe once-over by the pros.
Schedule that back-to-school physical, get those pearly whites in a dentist’s chair, and book your kid’s yearly eye exam. There’s no better way to verify that you’ve got a healthy, happy kid than to make sure their healthcare providers have a chance to give them a clean bill of health.
2. A good night’s sleep.
An over-tired kid cannot be at their best. Supporting a healthy bedtime routine is the key to creating an opportunity for success for your school-age children. On the nights when sleep isn’t coming easy, try offering an OLLY Kids Sleep gummy. OLLY Kids Sleep “delivers a mini dose of Melatonin to support healthy sleep cycles.” It also contains time-honored botanicals like chamomile, passionflower, and lemon balm to help your little one rest.
3. A hearty, easy breakfast.
This is where planning ahead is your best friend. Have a few choices on hand so that even on the busiest morning, breakfast is a priority. If you have time for a full hot breakfast at the table, that’s amazing, but on the mornings that is just not happening, an English muffin with peanut butter banana or a quick bagel with cream cheese and strawberries does the trick. A good multi-vitamin, like OLLY Kids Multi + Probiotic can give you a little added reassurance that they’re getting the good stuff, even on those busy mornings.
4. A few items to foster independence in your morning routine.
Use a weekly clothing organizer and choose outfits for the entire week on Sunday night and you’ll never be searching the house at 7 a.m. for that shirt you kid just cannot live without. Provide an alarm clock so your kids can get used to waking themselves up before you go in and get them. Give your kids toothbrushes with timers to ensure that they brush for the recommended two full minutes, and you won’t have to hover in the bathroom to make sure they’re getting it done.
You can empower your kids to take ownership of their morning routine, which supports their health and their happiness. Total parenting win.
5. A fighting chance against the back-to-school germs.
When you get lots of kids in a small space, germs happen. Encourage your child’s immune system to keep up with a gummy designed to support immune health. OLLY Kids Immunity packs a bunch of good stuff into a yummy gummy your kid will want to eat every morning. Make sure you send your kiddo to school with plenty of hand sanitizer — and instructions not to share straws or water bottles!
