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Antelope Valley Pediatrician Offers Back-to-School Health Tips
ANTELOPE VALLEY, CA –- With the new school year on the horizon, families in Antelope Valley are gearing up for the transition. Dr. Catherine Pourdavoud, MD, a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente in Antelope Valley, provides expert guidance to make this transition smooth and healthy. Below, she shares her insights and practical advice.
Healthy Sleep Habits: The Foundation of Success
Dr. Pourdavoud stresses the importance of easing children back into their school sleep schedules, saying, “It’s harder to transition back to school for children that may have been staying up late in the summer. Start by moving bedtime up 15-20 minutes every few days until your child reaches the bedtime for school.”
She also emphasizes age-specific sleep needs:
Preschoolers: 10-13 hours of sleep per day (including naps).
Gradeschoolers (6-12 year olds): 9-12 hours of sleep a day.
Teens: 8-10 hours of sleep a day.
Crafting a Bedtime Routine
A comforting bedtime routine can work wonders. Dr. Pourdavoud advises, “Setting up a bedtime routine that works for your family is a great idea for helping your child relax and wind down before bed. Reading books together as a family can boost your child’s cognitive development, language, and vocabulary.”
Additionally, she warns against the use of electronic devices close to bedtime, stating, “Blue light from electronic devices may suppress melatonin and delay sleepiness. Make sure that all screens are turned off at least 1 hour before bedtime.”
Staying Current with Medical Check-ups
“Make sure that your child is up to date on their yearly physical/wellness exam as well as immunizations that may be needed for school,” Dr. Pourdavoud recommends. She also urges parents to schedule any sports physicals and plan for the yearly flu shot.
Handwashing: A Fun and Effective Defense
Dr. Pourdavoud sees handwashing as a first line of defense, saying, “Handwashing is one of the most important first-line defenses against germs and disease.” She encourages parents to make it fun by following the CDC-recommended handwashing steps:
Wet your child’s hands.
Apply liquid soap or clean bar soap.
Rub hands together vigorously.
Continue scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.
Rinse the hands well and dry them.
“Picking a short little song for your child to sing while washing her hands can make it more fun and help develop this good habit,” she adds.