{"id":2915,"date":"2026-07-22T17:07:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T17:07:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2915"},"modified":"2026-07-22T17:07:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T17:07:21","slug":"healthier-hawaii-what-to-know-as-kids-head-back-to-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2915","title":{"rendered":"Healthier Hawaii: What to know as kids head back to school"},"content":{"rendered":"
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – With the new school year just weeks away, doctors say now is the time for families to get ahead on a few key health checklists \u2014 from vaccines and sports physicals to sleep schedules and back-to-school anxiety.<\/p>\n

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Dr. Jessenia Knowles, a family medicine physician at Hawai\u2018i Pacific Health\u2019s Waipahu Academic Health Center, says one of the first steps is making sure kids are up to date on immunizations.<\/p>\n

Check immunizations and schedule physicals early<\/h3>\n

Knowles says immunization guidelines depend on a child\u2019s age, so parents should confirm what\u2019s needed, including any state or school requirements.<\/p>\n

If a child needs a routine physical or a sports physical, Knowles recommends contacting their physician sooner rather than later. She says clinics can often do both in the same visit, making it more convenient for families.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Watch for signs of stress, anxiety or depression<\/h3>\n

Knowles says it\u2019s also important to monitor mental health, especially during the transition back to school.<\/p>\n

She says concerns are showing up not just among teens, but also younger children. For some kids, returning to school can trigger anxiety or even depression.<\/p>\n

Knowles recommends talking with children about how they\u2019re feeling and encouraging them to share what\u2019s on their mind. She also suggests helping kids reconnect with friends before school starts \u2014 like setting up an in-person get-together with classmates they may not have seen all summer.<\/p>\n

For students starting at a new campus, Knowles says visiting the school before the first day can help ease nerves by making the environment feel more familiar. If parents notice anything out of the ordinary, she recommends reaching out to the child\u2019s physician.<\/p>\n

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Make sure schools have allergy and asthma plans on file<\/h3>\n

Knowles says schools should be informed about a child\u2019s allergies, whether food-related, medication-related or environmental.<\/p>\n

For children with severe, life-threatening allergies, she says families should fill out and submit an Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan to the school.<\/p>\n

For kids with asthma, she recommends ensuring the school has the child\u2019s asthma action plan, including triggers and medications. For example, some children with exercise-induced asthma may need to use an inhaler before P.E. class.<\/p>\n

Reset sleep schedules before the first bell<\/h3>\n

One of the biggest struggles for many families is getting kids back on a consistent sleep routine.<\/p>\n

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Knowles says sleep is critical for children\u2019s development, growth and recovery \u2014 and many aren\u2019t getting enough. A national study found more than a third of kids in Hawai\u2018i don\u2019t get sufficient sleep, and more than 60% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander children were not getting enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n

To make the transition easier, Knowles suggests a gradual approach: start moving bedtime earlier in 30-minute increments as the start of school gets closer.<\/p>\n

She also recommends limiting phone and device use before bed, and setting up a sleep-friendly space, quiet, dark, and at a comfortable temperature.<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018We are a lahui\u2019: Native Hawaiian Convention opens with calls for unity<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Knowles says immunization guidelines depend on a child\u2019s age, so parents should confirm what\u2019s needed, including any state or school requirements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sunrise"],"yoast_head":"\nHealthier Hawaii: What to know as kids head back to school - Hawaii Moving Insider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2915\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Healthier Hawaii: What to know as kids head back to school - 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