It’s time for kids to head back to school. Whether your child is starting school for the first time or getting ready to graduate it is important that they stay safe and create healthy habits. As a parent or guardian, you can make sure that your child gets their immunizations on time, practices healthy eating and lifestyle habits, gets enough sleep, regularly visits their health care providers, and gets back into their regular school routine.
For information on how to help your child stay safe and learn healthy lifestyle habits this school year, click on the links below.
Featured Topics
Bullying
Bullying can happen in all kinds of situations. It can be physical, verbal, social, or even happen online. Click on the links below to learn more about bullying, including how to know if your child is being bullied or is bullying.
- Bullying
- Bullying: Building a Child's Self-Esteem
- Bullying: How to Help Your Child Who Bullies
- Bullying: Signs a Child Is Bullied
Healthy Eating
Creating healthy eating habits from an early age is an important part of your child’s growth and development. For information about healthy eating, including healthy snack and meal ideas, click on the links below.
- Healthy Eating: Helping Your Child Learn Healthy Eating Habits
- Healthy Eating for Children
- Quick Tips: Making Healthy Snacks
Getting Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is important for children of all ages. For tips on how to create a bed time routine, why your child might not be sleeping well, and why it is important to get enough sleep, click on the links below.
- Sleep: Helping Your Children – and Yourself – Sleep Well
- Sleep Problems, Age 12 and Older
- Time for Bed (HealthLinkBC File #92e)
Immunization
Getting your child immunized can help save lives. Immunizations help your immune system recognize and quickly kill bacteria and viruses that can cause serious illness or death. For more information about routine immunizations, click on the links below.
- B.C. Immunization Schedules
- Childhood Vaccines are Safe (HealthLinkBC File #50c)
- Grade 6 Immunizations in B.C. (HealthLinkBC File #50f)
- Grade 9 Immunizations in B.C. (HealthLinkBC File #50g)
Managing Health Concerns at School
If your child has health concerns such as asthma, allergies or diabetes, it is important that you make a plan for the time they are at school. Click on the links below to learn more.
- Allergy Safe Child Care Facilities (HealthLinkBC File #100c)
- Asthma: Educating Yourself and Your Child
- Diabetes in Children: Care Plan for School and Daycare
- Severe Food Allergies in Children and Teenagers (HealthLinkBC File #100a)
Routine Checkups
As your child grows, it is important that they get regular checkups with their family doctor or nurse practitioner, eye doctor, and dentist. To learn more about what routine health checkups your child should have, click on the links below.
- Basic Dental Care
- Elementary School Age Children and Their Vision (HealthLinkBC File #53b)
- Medical Checkups for Adolescents
- Routine Checkups
Starting a New School
Starting a new school can be scary. In some children, it can cause stress or anxiety as they struggle to fit in, make new friends, and create a new routine. For tips on how to help your child transition into a new school, develop social skills and self-esteem, and deal with stress, click on the links below.
- Help Your School-Age Child Develop Social Skills
- Helping Your Child Build Inner Strength
- Helping Your Child Transition Into Middle School or Junior High
- Stress in Children and Teenagers
Staying Safe
Whether your child is playing at the playground, walking to school, or trying to properly use a backpack, their safety is important. To learn how to help keep your child safe, click on the links below.
- Child Safety: Street and Motor Vehicles
- Playground Safety
- Quick Tips: Helping Your Child Stay Safe and Healthy
- Quick Tips: Using Backpacks Safely
Your Health Authority
For back to school related health information from your health authority, where available, click on the links below.
- Fraser Health: School Health
- Interior Health: School Health
- Island Health: School Years
- Northern Health: School & Youth Health
- Vancouver Coastal Health: School Health
Useful Websites
ERASE Bullying
ERASE Bullying (Expect Respect and A Safe Education) is a Ministry of Education website that provides information about bullying, as well as information directed towards parents and youth. Visit their website to learn more.
Healthy Families BC
The Healthy Families BC website encourages families to work together to create healthier lives, schools, communities and workplaces for all British Columbians. The website provides practical tips on health and learning, healthy eating and healthy lifestyle choices. Visit their website to learn more.
- Healthy Families BC
- Physical Activity Tips for Children
- Recipes and Tips for School Lunches
- Walking to School, One Step Closer to Healthier Kids
Healthy Schools BC
Healthy Schools partners with the community, the health sector, and the education sector to support students to develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Programs and supports include active living, healthy relationships, healthy eating, and healthy practices. Visit their website to learn more.
Last Reviewed: August 2016
