Bridgehampton-based NYU Langone pediatrician Dr. Peter Vaccaro helps parents navigate children's health during back-to-school season.
Dr. Peter Vaccaro is a pediatrician at NYU Langone’s J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Ambulatory Care-Bridgehampton.
As fall approaches, parents face the annual challenge of preparing their children for a successful school year of learning and growth. Beyond academic readiness, ensuring they are and remain as healthy as possible is key to a smooth transition for both the kids and their parents. From teaching essential hygiene practices to promoting nutritious eating, parents can take preventative steps to improve their children's well-being throughout the school year.
At J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Ambulatory Care-Bridgehampton, NYU Langone Health pediatrician Dr. Peter Vaccaro spends a lot of time talking with kids and their parents, so he understands the issues that tend to arise as children re-enter the classroom. Passionate about his job and his patients’ well-being, Dr. Vaccaro focuses on preventing illnesses and guiding parents through addressing them—working closely with the physician assistants, clinical staff and administrative staff in his office. He sat down with us to share five strategies for bolstering your child's health as they head back to the classroom.
At J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Ambulatory Care, Dr. Vaccaro helps parents navigate children’s illnesses.
Teach Hand Washing Early
Kids touch everything, so teaching them the importance of hand washing, and the right way to do it (for at least 20 seconds), will help keep them healthy. According to Dr. Vaccaro, kids should already be trained to wash their hands thoroughly by the time they’re school-age, as it’s extremely influential in reducing their risk of colds, infections and fevers. You can encourage this early on by washing your hands with them or teaching them a song to sing while doing it (the happy birthday song is a classic).
Pack Nutritious Lunches
While some schools offer healthy options for lunch, it’s a good idea to pack a nutrient-dense meal for your kids or teach them to pack their own. Dr. Vaccaro recommends opting for things like fruit, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs and vegetables with salad dressing for dipping. “For kids who don’t want to eat their vegetables, I recommend smoothies,” he says. “Take some kale and whirl it up with a pear in your blender. It’s sweet and tart, and they’re getting a superfood."
Get Them Moving
Along with a healthy diet, physical activity benefits kids in a plethora of ways: building muscle, improving heart, lung and brain health, strengthening bones, lowering the risk of diabetes and so much more. Sports can also teach kids important lessons and improve their mental health. “Get your kids involved in sports, whether it’s tennis, dance, karate or something else,” Dr. Vaccaro says. “They need to have after-school activities that are supervised to manage weight problems, help with hyperactivity and more.”
Monitor Childrens’ Symptoms
While older kids can usually articulate their pain or discomfort, younger kids might not be able to recognize or express how they feel. So in order to catch illnesses early, parents should know what symptoms to look out for. “If there's crankiness, lethargy or clinginess, or if the child has a fever, parents should investigate that further,” Dr. Vaccaro says. “If I’m unable to get a child to calm down, it can indicate something more significant, so we’ll run some tests, such as a blood count, urine culture or x-ray.”
Communicate with Teachers and Parents
From August to May, kids spend the majority of their time at school, so Dr. Vaccaro notes that parents should keep open lines of communication with teachers to understand the full scope of their child’s health. “The parent should know what the teacher is thinking and what issues they’ve seen in the classroom,” he says. “If there’s a problem, they should work together to figure out a plan.” Along with communicating with teachers, parents should always let other families know when their child has something contagious and keep them home from school.
All in all, it’s about making sure your children have the necessary tools, structures and support to lead the healthiest life they can—in and outside the classroom.
Learn more about NYU Langone’s J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Ambulatory Care-Bridgehampton.
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