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29 March 2024

Screen-free zones, breakfast help children

Published
By Staff

A house should have screen-free zones where TV, computer or video games are banned, in order to provide restful sleep for a child.

This was one of the back-to-school tips distributed by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in its weekly Twitter clinic.

"Turn off digital devices few hours before the child’s bed time because watching digital devices before sleep time affects the child’s ability to get a restful sleep," said Nada Al Mulla, head of medical affairs unit  at Al Barsha Health Centre.

"Ideally establish a bed time routine that involves reading books to your children, and ensure your child gets at least 10 hours of sleep every night.”

With the end of the summer holidays in sight, parents should start preparing for a different routine.

At best preparations should be started a few days before the start of school, tipped Hamed Yahyah Hussein, deputy head of schools and educational institutions health unit at DHA’s primary health care sector.

Back-to-school food

Eating breakfast is one of the elements of a good school routine.

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In fact, studies show that children who eat a nutritious breakfast function better. They do better in school; they have better concentration and more energy," said Hussein.

“Mornings are busy and a bit of planning the night before will go a long way to ensure a stress-free morning.

"Laying out clothes, assembling the lunch box and deciding on breakfast the night before will make mornings fuss-free, so patents can ensure their children eat breakfast before going to school.

Asya Jafar Ahmed Al Zarouni,  head of section at clinical nutrition department, said: “Nutrition is such an important component for the growth and well-being of children.

"Parents should ensure all main meals have some form of protein.

"A rule of thumb is the more colourful the plate, the more nutritious it is," she tipped.

Other tips she gave was using frozen icepacks when sending perishable food items, especially meat, to school so that food does not get spoilt, and in the case of young children taking notion of choking hazards when selecting the food for school.

Back-to-school diseases

In order to reduce the prevalence of contagious infections in schools, parents should not send their sick children to school for three to five days.

“This is the best method to prevent spread of infectious to other children in class,” said Waleed Hasan Al Faisal, public health specialist in the schools and educational institutions health unit at DHA’s primary health care sector.

“The most common contagious infectious we find in a school environment are common cold, influenza, diarrhea, upper respiratory infections, chickenpox and measles.

"Reducing the spread of infections among school children is also the responsibility of every parent.

"Further, schools and parents should ensure that children wash their hands before meal time as hand-hygiene is one of the most important ways of preventing the spread of germs,” said Al Faisal.

He urged parents to ensure children are up-to-date with their vaccination schedule.

Back-to-school backpack

"Carrying heavy school bags is one of the most common ways to cause posture and spine problems in children," concluded Al Mulla.

"Your child’s school bag should not be more than 10 per cent of your child’s body weight.”