By Dr. Mamata Bothra, Specialist Pediatrician and Neonatologist, International Modern Hospital, Dubai
With schools reopening on August 25, parents across the UAE are busy preparing uniforms, books, shoes and lunchboxes. But before the school bag is packed, it is worth asking one more important question: Is my child healthy and ready for the new academic year?
As a pediatrician and neonatologist, I encourage parents to use the remaining days before school as an opportunity for a simple health review. This does not mean carrying out a long list of unnecessary medical tests. Instead, it is about identifying any health concerns that could affect a child’s learning, energy, development or overall well-being.
Start with vaccinations and medical needs
Begin by checking your child’s vaccination record. Make sure all routine vaccinations are up to date and that no recommended doses have been missed. Parents should also speak with their child’s doctor about the seasonal influenza vaccine.
If your child has a chronic medical condition or requires regular medication, ensure prescriptions are current and that the school has the necessary medical information, medicines and emergency action plan.
A routine pediatric check-up can also be valuable, particularly if your child has not been assessed recently. During the appointment, the pediatrician can evaluate growth, height, weight, blood pressure, physical development, nutrition and general health.
It is also an opportunity to discuss concerns that may have been postponed during the holidays, including recurrent headaches or abdominal pain, constipation, frequent infections, breathing difficulties, snoring, fatigue, poor appetite or unexplained changes in behaviour and school performance.
Preventive pediatric visits should not focus solely on vaccinations. They also provide an opportunity to discuss a child’s learning, behaviour, development, emotional health and any age-appropriate screening needs.
Does your child need tests for iron or vitamin deficiencies?
Iron deficiency deserves particular attention because it can affect a child’s energy, concentration and neurodevelopment. However, this does not mean that every healthy school-aged child needs to undergo a large “vitamin panel” before returning to school.
The decision to perform blood tests should be based on the child’s age, diet, growth, symptoms and individual risk factors.
Children who follow restrictive, vegetarian or vegan diets, have poor nutrition, consume excessive amounts of milk, have a chronic illness or are not growing as expected may require further assessment. Persistent tiredness, pale skin, weakness and difficulty concentrating can also indicate the need for medical evaluation.
When testing for possible iron deficiency is clinically indicated, particularly in adolescents, a complete blood count and serum ferritin test may be useful.
Similarly, testing for vitamin D, vitamin B12 or other nutritional deficiencies should be guided by the child’s medical history, diet, symptoms and clinical examination—not performed routinely for every child.
Do not overlook vision and hearing
A child who cannot see the board or hear the teacher clearly may appear inattentive when the real problem is sensory.
Possible signs of a vision problem include squinting, sitting very close to screens, rubbing the eyes, experiencing frequent headaches, holding books unusually close, struggling to read, turning the head to one side or showing an unexplained decline in school performance.
For hearing, parents should watch for frequent use of the word “What?”, increasing the television volume, difficulty following instructions, failing to respond when called or a history of recurrent ear infections.
Not every concentration problem is an attention disorder. Before labelling a child as inattentive, we should first make sure the child can see clearly, hear properly and sleep well.
Dental health affects learning too
A dental check-up is worthwhile if your child has not visited a dentist recently, particularly if there is toothache, sensitivity, bleeding gums, persistent bad breath or visible tooth decay.
Dental pain can interfere with eating, sleeping, concentration and school attendance.
Parents should also remember that a school lunchbox does not need to become a travelling sweet shop. Encourage children to brush regularly with fluoride toothpaste and limit frequent sugary snacks and drinks.
Reset the body clock before school begins
If your child’s bedtime has gradually moved towards midnight during the holidays, do not expect them to fall asleep at 9pm on the night before school.
Start adjusting bedtime and wake-up time gradually before classes begin. School-aged children generally require nine to 12 hours of sleep each night, while teenagers usually need eight to 10 hours.
Insufficient sleep does not always appear simply as tiredness. In some children, it may cause irritability, hyperactivity, poor concentration, mood changes or behavioural difficulties.
Prioritise balanced food and hydration
A nutritious breakfast and balanced diet can help children begin the school day with energy and concentration. Aim to include a variety of protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables while reducing highly processed food and sugary drinks.
Hydration is especially important in the UAE’s climate. Send your child to school with a water bottle and encourage regular drinking throughout the day rather than waiting until they feel very thirsty. Water should remain the main drink.
A practical back-to-school health checklist
Before August 25, parents should consider the following questions:
- Vaccinations: Are all routine vaccinations up to date?
- Growth: Is my child’s height and weight progressing appropriately?
- Iron and nutrition: Is there a dietary risk or unexplained fatigue that requires assessment?
- Vision: Can my child see the board and read comfortably?
- Hearing: Can my child hear clearly and follow instructions?
- Dental health: Is there any pain, sensitivity or untreated dental problem?
- Sleep: Has my child’s routine returned to school timings?
- Food and water: Is my child eating a balanced diet and drinking enough water?
- Chronic conditions: Are medicines, prescriptions and school action plans updated?
- Development and behaviour: Have there been changes in learning, concentration, mood or behaviour that require attention?
Parents do not need to panic or turn the back-to-school season into a medical examination marathon. The objective is not to find a problem in every child. It is to ensure that an existing concern does not go unnoticed.
A new uniform may prepare a child for the classroom, but adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, clear vision, good hearing, healthy teeth and timely medical care prepare that child to learn.
This year, before asking, “Have you packed your school bag?”, perhaps ask one more question:
“Are you healthy, rested and ready for the year ahead?”
