It’s that time of year when children shift from summer vacation back into the classroom. The back-to-school season can be a busy and stressful time for both parents and children. As the new school year approaches, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center experts are available for interviews on a variety of topics to help parents support and prepare their children for a successful start to the school year.

Check Up on Your Child’s Health

As summer winds down and back-to-school preparations begin, an important item on the checklist is an annual checkup. A routine wellness visit is essential for kids’ health and well-being, and it’s a good way to start the school year on a healthy note. An annual checkup is also a time to be sure children are up to date on vaccinations. Jennifer Lambert, M.D., a pediatrics fellow at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, can offer recommendations and guidance for parents.

Fight the Back-to-School Jitters

The beginning of a new school year is an exciting time that stirs up a range of emotions. There can be many new situations and transitions, including unfamiliar classrooms, different teachers and new routines. These experiences can cause stress and anxiety. Johns Hopkins Children’s Center child psychologists Joseph McGuire, Ph.D., M.A., and Erika Chiappini, Ph.D., can discuss tips for parents to help children combat first-day jitters, such as making school visits and meeting teachers before the first day of class.

Preventing Sicknesses at School

Returning to the classroom serves as a reminder to protect against illnesses. Pediatric infectious diseases specialists Aaron Milstone, M.D., M.H.S., and Anna Sick-Samuels, M.D., M.P.H., can discuss the importance of proper hand-washing and other ways to help prevent the spread of illnesses, such as making sure children are fully immunized — including vaccines for COVID-19 and the flu. They also can advise parents what to do if their children get sick and when it’s best to keep them home from school.

Fueling for the School Year

A nutritious and well-balanced diet is essential to help children grow, develop and thrive in school, both mentally and physically. Stephanie Green, M.D., M.S., a pediatric endocrinologist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, can discuss how best to “fuel” kids for school — including tips for building balanced lunches and appropriate snacking, and information on the importance of breakfast and proper hydration. She also can offer tips on encouraging daily exercise and other physical activity.

Play It Safe at School and on the Field

Going back to school also means returning to the playground, outdoor recess and fall sports such as football and soccer. R. Jay Lee, M.D., pediatric sports medicine specialist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, can offer tips for helping to keep kids safe during school sports and other physical activity. He also can advise parents on how to identify and respond to injuries, including when to seek medical care. Amit Jain, M.D., M.B.A., chief of minimally invasive spine surgery at Johns Hopkins, can provide advice for proper backpack use to prevent back pain in children.   

Reset Bedtime Routine

Summer breaks from school can bring changes in sleep schedules for children. A quality night’s sleep is not only essential for success in the classroom but also for proper growth and development. Laura Sterni, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Sleep Center, can provide tips for parents to get children back on their school bedtime routine and to help them develop successful sleep habits, including having a comfortable sleep environment and down stopping use of electronics well before bedtime.

On the Web

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center

Division of Pediatric Endocrinology

Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics

Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Pediatric Sleep Center