(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: As schools all set to open tomorrow after a long summer holiday break, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in an advisory emphasised the selection of an ‘ideal school bag' for children's health.
In a post shared on its Twitter account, HMC has defined an ideal school bag with a number of essential specifications. It says that an ideal school bag should have compact cotton padding from the back side of the bag and its waist strap should be connected to the shoulder straps.
The bag should be waterproof, easy to clean, durable and of high quality as well as the weight of a school bag must not be more than 10 to 15 percent of the child's total body weight.
According to HMC advisory, a bag should have multiple pockets to keep it balanced and ensure easy access to books and other contents. The school bag should have wide cotton shoulder straps and it should be made of light-weight materials, such as wool, light textile etc.
The advisory has also given other specifications of the ideal bag for elementary school students are height 40cm, width 28cm, depth 12cm. Specifications of the ideal bag for middle and high school students are height 45cm, width 30cm, depth 12cm.
The bag should have an extendable handle commensurate with the child's stature. It says that when opting for a wheeled school bag, choose one with large wheels.
Recently, HMC also offered tips for recognising and reducing back-to-school anxiety.
Dr. Saleem Al Nuaimi, a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with HMC's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), said in statement: 'The beginning of a new school year can be a challenging time for young people and can trigger severe stress and anxiety. Educational environments play a dominant role in young people's intellectual, emotional, and social development and children with mental disorders such as anxiety can face major challenges. It's important for parents to be vigilant and to carefully monitor their children.
Dr. Al Nuaimi said while it can be difficult for parents to identify anxiety in children, common warning signs that a child may be distressed about returning to school include making excuses not to go and expressing worrisome thoughts.
Dr. Al Nuaimi said it is normal for children to feel worried or anxious from time to time. He says anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns for children but says, unlike normal anxiety an anxiety disorder interferes with the child's school, home, and social life.
'If the anxiety is starting to interfere with the child's ability to go to school and results in other symptoms such as excessive crying, aggression/temper outbursts, sleep or appetite disturbance, avoiding leaving the house, avoiding social situations, and no longer participating in activities they used to enjoy, it's time to get assistance from a professional, said Dr. Al Nuaimi.
Dr. Al Nuaimi says there are several things that parents can do to help reduce or stabilise school-related anxiety, including being empathetic and listening to their child's concerns. He recommends reassuring the child that it's normal to feel a little scared in new situations and says ensuring the young person is eating well and getting enough sleep is also important.
MENAFN2408201900630000ID1098920104
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.