Experts available for your back-to-school stories

From separation anxiety to helping kids with scoliosis find the best sport,  The Children’s Hospital of Georgia at Augusta University offers highly-sought after clinicians for your back-to-school stories. View the story ideas below and contact Danielle Harris at 706-564-9282 to schedule an interview.

Making the switch from summer to school

Kids need time to adjust from their summer schedule to the rigorous activities of school. To help ease that transition, Pediatric Psychiatrist Dale Peeples encourages parents to begin adjusting their kids’ bedtime a week before school starts, let your kids choose their outfit for the first day of school and even consider taking a trip to the school so the child can get familiar with their new classroom.

What you need to know about scoliosis

For kids with scoliosis, the summer provides a nice break from the physical pain and emotional stress that accompanies the spinal disorder. To help children manage scoliosis on top of dealing with homework and tight schedules, Pediatric Orthopedist Styles Bertrand offers advice ranging from choosing the best backpack to selecting the best sport with the lowest impact on the spine.

Teaching kids the ABCs of healthy living

With school and fall sports kicking off in a few weeks, it is never too early for parents to start thinking about nutrition essentials for their kids. Pediatric Dietician Sarah Tankersley offers advice on how parents can explain nutrition concepts and teach their kids the importance of staying hydrated.

Watch that screen time

Could too much digital screen time be damaging your kid’s eyesight? Although there is not any research to conclude this, Pediatric Ophthalmologist Andrea Prosser suggests long stretches of looking at digital media screens can lead to nearsightedness or may even cause symptoms such as eye fatigue, blurred vision, and dry eyes. To keep your kid’s eyes safe, Prosser suggests parents limit the time kids spend on digital media devices, have kids take breaks every half hour so they can rest their eyes and get their vision tested regularly.

Stay safe crossing the street

Unintentional pedestrian injuries are one of the leading causes of injury-related death in the United States for children aged five to 19, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Whether children are walking to a friend’s house or to school, Registered Nurse and Safe Kids Greater Augusta Coordinator Renee McCabe says there are various ways parents can help kids stay safe. Her advice includes teaching kids to put away electronic devices to be aware of their surroundings and the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street.