Back to School, Back To Healthy Routines with Priority Health

Summer can often be a time for relaxation. Relaxing by the beach, relaxing family trips… and sometimes relaxing your standards. If bedtime has gone from 8PM sharp to “at least the kids don’t have school in the morning” and the only food pyramid you’ve been observing is the one the potato chips make when you pour them into a bowl, you’re not alone. But back-to-school season is a great time to get you and your family back into healthy routines.

Don’t snooze on sleep health

It may help to start with the basics. Reinstating bedtimes can be tricky when the sun’s also staying out late, but poor sleep can impact school performance negatively. Try gradually setting your kids’ alarm earlier to start instead. A longer day often means less fight at night, and sleep comes more easily when you’ve had an early morning with lots of activity. Creating (or returning to) a bedtime routine for the whole family helps create cues for the body that it’s time for rest.

Get moving on resuming activity

Physical activity doesn’t just make bedtime easier, it also helps shake off some of the lethargy that summer can bring. Especially in the dog days of summer all the planning and events can leave you exhausted, to say nothing of the heat. It’s tempting to give in to extra screen time that can impact learning when school resumes. But making time for physical fitness – whether that’s a bike ride, laps at the pool or just joining the kids in a game at the park – helps keep wellness a part of your summer while also preparing the family for a more structured autumn.

Lost some structure over the summer due to a life change? If your sleepless nights are due to a new family member rather than a later sundown, or a move to a new home means you’re in a new school district and a new health network, you may also be eligible for a new plan during a Special Enrollment Period. Qualifying life events include:

Having a baby
Losing Medicaid eligibility
Losing coverage
Getting married or divorced
Changing jobs
Moving to a new location

If the year’s brought any of these changes, you might add enrolling in a Priority Health plan to your back-to-school checklist. We’ve even made a checklist for you, with five plan must haves to save you money.

Get squared away on mealtimes

Another item on that list might be returning to more formal – and healthier – mealtimes. Starting with a nutritious breakfast sets the tone for the day and readies your kids for a more scheduled morning. Getting back to the dinner table for suppertime also lets you connect as a family, which is also a great way to support your kids’ mental health before the changes that come with increased peer interactions at school. Worried that summer eating habits may have resulted in a few cavities? Part of healthy eating is a healthy mouth, so scheduling family dental visits before they result in missed school time is also a good idea.

The three R’s: Reading, wRiting, and Re-adjusting

Make sure your kids are prepared for school itself, too. Help teachers and staff support their health with a list of any medications or diagnoses that might impact their well-being or learning. Before they’re reintroduced to their peers (and their germs) make sure your kids are protected by the recommended vaccinations. A well-child visit with their pediatrician keeps them up to date on immunizations and can identify any medical issues that might contribute to academic difficulties. Their doctor will make sure your kids have any required vaccines, clearances for team sports and referrals for any needed vision or hearing screenings (since eye and ear problems can also make learning difficult). The best part? With a Priority Health plan those preventive care visits are always at $0 cost to you.

Here to help your scholars stay healthy

Healthier kids are better learners, so the end of summer is a great time to ensure yours are as healthy – and ready for school – as can be. If finding health coverage is part of your back-to-school to-do list, our award-winning¹ customer care team can help you find the plan that best meets your health coverage needs. Or, if you want to get in the back-to-school spirit yourself, you can take a pop quiz to see what you need from a health plan. Call 833.437.0394 or visit PriorityHealth.com today.