New research highlights importance of mental and physical preparation for a successful school year

Experts emphasise the critical role of families in establishing healthy routines, addressing mental health, and supporting nutrition to ensure children start the school year well.

Starting the school year well means more than buying notebooks and a backpack. Pediatricians and nutrition specialists told Al Sharq that children and teenagers need time to adjust psychologically, physically and socially so they can return to class with less stress and better focus. They said families play the central role in restoring sleep routines, limiting screen time and creating a calm environment before lessons resume.

Professor Mohammed Handous, a paediatrician and senior consultant at Dhavio Hospital, said the transition back to school can excite some children while unsettling others. He urged parents to speak openly with their children about anxiety, mood changes, appetite shifts and other signs that the return to school may be causing pressure. He also warned that bullying can take many forms, including physical aggression, hurtful language, exclusion and online harassment, and said children should be taught to ask for help rather than answer with violence. The CDC says schools are influential settings for children’s social, psychological and physical development and can help shape lifelong health habits.

Another paediatrician, Rashad Lashin, said preparation should begin well before the first day of class, not in the final hours of the holiday. He encouraged parents to present school as a positive place linked to friendships, activities and learning rather than punishment or endless homework. Lashin also advised families to reset bedtimes and wake-up times at least two weeks before school starts and to cut back on devices gradually, noting that late-night screen use can disrupt sleep and leave children tired and distracted the next day. The CDC’s guidance on school health and the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child framework similarly stresses that healthy routines and supportive school environments can improve learning and wellbeing.

Lashin added that parents should also check for health issues that can interfere with learning, including anaemia, vitamin D deficiency and attention problems, because spotting and treating them early can improve classroom performance. He said involving children in buying school supplies can build enthusiasm and help them feel invested in the year ahead. For students facing bullying, he recommended teaching a simple response: stop, walk away and tell an adult. The CDC says schools that promote healthy behaviours and provide health education are better placed to support both academic success and lifelong wellbeing.

On nutrition, Dhavio Hospital dietitian Ghuna Al-Zubair said breakfast remains one of the most important meals for children and adolescents because it provides energy for concentration and activity during the school day. She noted that some school snacks rely heavily on pastries and juices, which do not always amount to a balanced meal. Al-Zubair said a healthy breakfast does not need to be expensive or complicated, pointing to simple options such as eggs, cucumber, tomato, lettuce and water, or freshly made juice at home. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics both say school nutrition environments matter because many children eat a significant share of their daily calories at school and nutritious meals support growth and development.