Merging Back into the Fast Lane of September
Aug 28, 2006
Practical tips and resources for parents and teachers for the back to school rush
Back to School for Parents
Kelly and Mike Foster know the importance of providing nutritious take-along meals and snacks for their very energetic children, Bennett, 8, and Taryn, 6.
It's a practice they had to perfect on their two-year voyage aboard their 40-foot sailboat—a voyage that took them to such destinations as Mexico, French Polynesia, Tonga and New Zealand.
"Grocery shopping in some countries was a time-consuming, challenging all day affair," says Kelly Foster. "And we had to learn quickly what foods would travel well yet provide real nutrition while on passages as long as three weeks."
Settled back in Beaumont, the Fosters are just as committed to providing nutritious meals and snacks for their children as they start school. Providing the best choices possible will be comparatively easy for the Fosters now that grocery stores are abundant.
"It is just something we do so that our children learn proper eating habits and have the energy they need to be productive all day long."
For families like the Fosters, the back to school season is a busy yet important time to reflect on how to provide nutritious meals and snacks for their children. This can be a difficult, especially when families are so busy balancing multiple, active schedules.
Food for the Fast Lane Resources provide parents with practical tips to plan, purchase, pack and prepare healthy take-along food. Check out the free Food for the Fast Lane parent sessions at Capital Health public health centres.
Back to Bedtime Blues
Getting children back into their bedtime routines can be a challenge. On average, children require ten to eleven hours of sleep whereas adolescents require about nine hours of sleep a night.
To help get this much shut eye, Dr. Manisha Witmans, Director of the Stollery Children's Hospital's sleep lab and only one of two certified pediatric sleep specialists in Canada, suggests a few basic steps.
- Avoid caffeine before bed time (i.e. Colas, chocolate, energy drinks)
- Avoid physical activity before bed time
- Do not have a television or electronic gadgetry in the bedroom
- Keep the bedroom cool at night and allow the child to wake up with sunlight in the room maintain a regular bedtime and wake time
- Establish an age appropriate bedtime routine
Stollery Children’s Hospital Sleep Specialists help children get enough shut-eye
Back to School for Teachers
Dave Kowalchuk, an elementary school teacher of 17 years, still finds heading back to school hectic.
Like most teachers, Kowalchuk tries to find the right balance to meet curriculum standards and the individual needs of his students. This comes to the forefront at the beginning of the school year.
"I find it very important at the beginning of the year to present students with activities that develop class chemistry, build solid teacher-student rapport, and peak their interests for what is to come in future lessons," says Kowalchuk.
Teachers like Kowalchuk appreciate a central bank of resources that they can use throughout the year, but especially for the first couple of days, to help promote a good start to the year.
Teachers can access the following one-stop resource centre that can give great ideas for engaging activities and information on the accessing programs, services and resources to best meet the needs of their students.
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