Is my child ready to succeed in their day?
How many hours of sleep does the National Sleep Foundation recommend a child sleep at night?
Children between the ages of 5-12 need around 10-12 hours of sleep every night to have optimal functioning throughout the day.
How can you tell when your child is happy?
A happy child smiles, plays, laughs, shows curiosity, and interest in activities and other people.
Name 3 friends your child has.
*Answers will vary*
Example: specific friends from school, sports teams, clubs, neighbors, etc.
Did your child eat dinner?
Each meal should include some type of protein (chicken, beef, steak, dairy products, etc.), with fruits/vegetables, and grains to fuel your child. Setting a designated dinner time is helpful to remain on a schedule
When does my child’s school day start and when does their bus come? Or when will their ride leave? *Answers may vary*
Most school days typically start at 8 a.m., however, some may start at 7:45 or 9. Bus rides typically vary depending on how many students are on the bus, but students typically arrive at school ~15 minutes before school starts.
What signs are indicative of your child being sad?
A sad child may cry, have changes in eating and sleeping, loss of interest in activities, and may self-isolate themselves in social instances.
Name 2 ways to show how you can support your child.
Attend activities they participate in (ex: sports game or school play), reassure them through positive words, stand up for and advocate for them
When should you stop screen time before bed?
The National Sleep Foundation recommends an electronic cut off point between 30 minutes-2 hours, however 1 hour is a good rule of thumb to use. This will help increase the quality of sleep for a child.
How do I wake my kid up for the day?
Depending on the age of the kid, you as the parent can purchase an alarm clock for them. If the kid is not old enough for this, you can use light touch and say the kids name to wake them up peacefully and tell them that it is time to start their day. If you as a parent are struggling to keep a track of time when to wake them up for school, you can set your own alarm to remind yourself to wake them up.
What do you do when your child is sick?
The first thing you should do is identify the type of sickness, whether it is a cold or a fever, etc., using a thermometer or just observation and purchase appropriate medication to help. You should know the signs of common illnesses to know how to treat them with home remedies, such as tea, plain foods, and extra fluids. If your child does not get any better and experiences pain or an increase in illness, you should call your primary care physician to have them be assessed.
If you as the parent were not available to pick up your child from an event due to just being busy or because you are under the influence, who would you call to fill in that role for you?
*Answers may vary*
Example: parent’s partner, sibling, own parents, or aunt/uncle, neighbors, older siblings
What activities does my child have going on that I should know about?
Some things may include homework, extracurricular activities, sports practice, sports games, club meetings, parent-teacher conferences, playdates, rehearsals, doctors/dentist appointments, etc.
What foods will give my child enough energy and increase their nutrition?
A healthy breakfast consists of carbohydrates or grains, protein, dairy, or fruit and vegetables. Some options include toast, bagels, eggs, or fruit. In addition, water is good to have with breakfast for hydration or juice for extra vitamin intake or antioxidants.
How should you properly calm down your child when they are angry or frustrated?
Some possible solutions include having your child go to a designated calming room/corner and encourage them to color or engage in a calming activity until they start to feel better. Educate them on anger management techniques like taking a walk, taking deep breaths, or counting to 10.
How can you help your child get the proper socialization that they need?
Encourage your child to play with others, involve them in group activities (sports, clubs, swim lessons etc.), model good social skills for them, include your child in social gatherings (parties, etc.)
What are bedtime activities that have beneficial effects on sleep?
Some activities that will benefit your child include a nutritious snack, brushing teeth, showering/bathing, reading/listening to a book, talking about their day, etc.
What self-care tasks does my child need to do before going to school?
Common self-care activities for a morning routine include brushing teeth, hands, and face, showering if the child prefers, brushing hair, styling hair, getting dressed and wearing appropriate clothing depending on the weather.
What is the difference between anxiety and depression in children? And when does it start to become a problem?
Some common signs of depression include feelings of sadness and hopelessness, loss of interest in desired activities, trouble sleeping, change in appetite, feeling like small tasks take extra effort, being sluggish, showing self-injury or self-destructive behavior. Some common signs of anxiety include persistent and severe worrying, overthinking, envisioning worse-care scenarios, obsessing over situations, inability to relax, stomach aches, heart pounding. Being sad and having a normal amount of worry is ok, however, it starts to become a problem when it interferes with your child’s day-to-day activities
Does my child know their emergency contacts? What are key emergency contacts for them to know and what are good ways for them to remember them or remember where to look to find them?
*Answers may vary*
The most important emergency contact is 911 in any case of real emergency (fire, hurt parent, etc.). Educate your child on times to properly call 911 and encourage them to remember that number at a young age. Other common emergency contacts include the parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, siblings, neighbors, family friends, etc. You can purchase an emergency key tag for your child that the emergency contacts phone number and their relation to them. Have a list of possible emergency contacts readily available in the house (ex: hanging up on the fridge)
What are strategies to use when your child cannot fall asleep?
It is important to create a consistent bedtime routine. Some strategies include a warm, calming bath/shower, meditation and relaxation techniques, a weighted blanket, counting up to 100, possible use of essential oils to soothe child