Back to school
It’s that time of year again, so for parents, guardians and carers city-wide, here’s a vital checklist for all those pesky preparations to help you keep on top of the new term.
The week before:
• Make sure uniforms are complete (and fit! The younger ones especially may have grown at an alarming rate over the summer).
• Get new shoes.
• Make a weekday plan – be sure to account for who’s doing the school run, what days the after-school clubs fall on, and when the kids will do their homework.
• Buy or borrow a brand new pencil case and fill it with everything you’ll need for classes (this is the fun part).
The day before:
• Wash and press uniforms.
• Pack, check, and double check rucksacks and PE kits.
• Make and pack lunch boxes, or put aside lunch money.
• Have a healthy dinner and a good night’s sleep!
The first day of term:
• Get up nice and early (yes, even the morning-phobic amongst you).
• Eat a nutritious breakfast.
• Check in with each other at the end of the day to find out how it all went – this’ll give you the chance to iron out any creases, but also give the kids a chance to get excited about the year ahead.
Beat the bugs!
Warm classrooms, lots of kids at close contact, plus the start of autumn equals the return of the back to school ‘petri dish’ … here’s five top tips to help boost children’s immune systems:
Keep up their vitamin C! It doesn’t always stop colds but it can reduce symptoms and speed up recovery. Eat plenty of green veg such as broccoli, kale and spinach. Kiwis and green peppers are excellent sources too, and acerola cherries and black elderberry have powerful anti-viral properties.
Boost immunity! Two thirds of the immune system is in the gut; keep it healthy with lots of gut friendly foods such as rice, vegetables, oily fish and fruits.
Make sure there is quality protein in the diet. Home-made chicken soup is not just a fable, it’s really an excellent source.
Keep hydrated. All kids need to drink is water; we are made up of over 70% water. Avoid fizzy drinks and limit juices which can have a very high sugar content.
Keep sugar to a minimum. Sugar reduces nutrients in the body, such as vitamin C, which are essential for the immune system. Sugar has also been shown to reduce white blood cell count and also encourages bacteria growth. Careful with white carbs as well, as they turn to sugar in the body.
Karen Newby (BSc Nutritional Medicine) is the in-house nutritional therapist at UnBEElievable Health. For more health tips and supplements, visit: www.unbeelievablehealth.com
Back to school cool
Let’s not pretend it’s not important – kids want to look cool on their first day back in the new term. The Dr. Martens autumn/winter kids range is a great way for parents to indulge in the process; it’s a chance for Dr. Martens veteran wearers to give their own children the very same sense of attitude and quirky Brighton style with their footwear choice. And the kids love them, too.
The Junior versions of the 1461 3-eye shoe and 1460 8-eye boot are soft and durable, and perfect for younger children who have graduated to running around school playgrounds. And yes, they come in the classic cherry red and black leather, with some seasonal colours and designs on offer for kids with slightly more forgiving school dress codes!
All the key, identifying Dr. Martens features are still there, with the yellow stitch and fabric heel tab at the back. Whoever said uniforms had to be drab, eh?
All of these styles can be found or ordered at the Dr. Martens store at 15B Prince Albert Street, Brighton.
