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Back to School Health Tips for Kids: Hygiene, Sleep & More

Happy children with backpacks and big smiles running at school
Back to School Health Tips for Kids: Hygiene, Sleep & More
Essential Health Tips for Kids

Wellness Tips

A stylized lotus flower logo with shades of teal and green, featuring a circular emblem in the center depicting a white mountain peak against a blue and green backgroundAt Monadnock Community Hospital, we believe that wellness isn’t just a destination—it’s a journey we embark on together. That’s why we’ve launched our Wellness Wednesday campaign, an initiative designed to inspire, inform, and empower our community to lead healthier, happier lives.

As the school year kicks off, it’s the perfect time to boost your family’s defenses against common classroom germs. Our Infection Preventionist, Brian Earnshaw gives tips on how to keep you and your children safe and healthy this back-to-school season to protect children’s well-being and support their learning.

1. Prioritize Handwashing

Regular handwashing is one of the most effective defenses against common illnesses. According to the CDC, handwashing with soap can reduce diarrheal disease by 23–40% and respiratory illnesses by 16–21%. In school children, it’s been shown to cut down on time out of school due to gastrointestinal illness by 29–57%. (Washington State Department of Health 1)

One study found that children who washed their hands at least four times daily experienced 24% fewer respiratory illness days and 51% fewer gastrointestinal illness days. (PMC 2)

Young blonde child smiles while washing hands with foamy soap while being held gently by woman in blue striped shirt. The image features a white background with potted plant and running sink faucet.

2. Ensure Adequate Sleep

Sleep is critical for children’s health, learning, and emotion regulation. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends:

  • 6–12 years: 9–12 hours per night
  • 13–17 years: 8–10 hours per night. (CDC Archive 3)

Why this matters:

  • Teens often don’t get enough sleep—around 72.7% of high schoolers are sleep-deprived. (Verywell Mind 4)
  • Insufficient sleep is linked to poor attention, emotional difficulties, obesity, depression, and other health risks. (CDC Archive 5)
  • Consistent bedtimes help reduce daytime tiredness; only about two-thirds of children get this routine.

The image features a sleeping preteen girl in a black sweatshirt at a desk with a pen in hand and notebooks.

3. Fuel with Nutritious Food

A balanced diet supports children’s growth, focus, and immunity. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy while limiting added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats. (CDC 6)

Tools like MyPlate make it easy with half the plate fruits and veggies, plus whole grains and protein (USDA). At home, offer healthy snacks, encourage water over sugary drinks, and involve kids in meal prep to build lifelong habits. (Mayo Clinic 7)

4. Monitor Stress and Mental Health

Did you know that roughly one in five children experiences mental, emotional, or behavioral challenges? These conditions can often go untreated, so it is vital to prioritize students’ emotional well-being as they return to school.

Schools can support mental health by creating a sense of safety, fostering strong adult and peer relationships, and embedding social-emotional learning into the school day. Consistent routines including bedtimes, check-ins and open conversations can help children feel understood, reassured, and ready to engage and flourish. (SAMHSA 8)

A woman in a orange button up shirt is pictured kneeling down to a child with curly hair and bright blue backpack against a deep toned modern kitchen background.

A man with short dark hair smiles softly at the camera, wearing a light blue button-down shirt and a black vest. He has a Monadnock Community Hospital badge clipped to his vest and is standing against a plain beige wallThese are just a few ways you can keep kids safe during this back-to-school season. By focusing on simple habits like healthy eating, good sleep, handwashing and mental well-being, you can set your child up for a strong start this school year. Small, consistent steps go a long way in keeping kids healthy, happy, and ready to learn. When families, schools, and communities work together to support healthy routines, children thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Let’s make this school year one of wellness, growth, and success. 

Stay well, 

Brian Earnshaw, RN BSN
Infection Preventionist 

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