Doctors at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s highlighted the importance of monitoring children’s behavioral health, renewing prescriptions and vaccinations. (photo courtesy of Cedars-Sinai)

The start of the school year can be tough for many children. For some, the struggle might last just a few days. For others, however, a difficult transition back to school might be a sign of an undetected behavioral or developmental condition that requires medical attention.

That’s where a pediatrician can help.

“Pediatricians are an important source of support for families as children return to school,” said Dr. Shervin Rabizadeh, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s. “Our clinical and support teams are on standby for everything from vaccine updates to emotional and psychological support.”

Part of this care team is Dr. Cesar Ochoa, the new director of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, who provided tips for spotting the difference between back-to-school blues and symptoms of a more serious medical condition.

Parents and guardians should seek immediate advice if a child’s school expresses concern, Ochoa said. Schools have a duty to evaluate children and provide support services, and a child’s pediatrician can help families understand what might be going on and access publicly available services, he added.

It is important to note disruptive behavior or emotional regulation, particularly when a child doesn’t want to go to school, Ochoa said.

“Most children like school, it’s a place where they get to interact with other children and grow as individuals,” he said. “I would recommend keeping the pediatrician in the loop, so they can do an evaluation and, if needed, refer the child to a specialist. A specialist will try to understand the situation and come up with meaningful interventions.”

Suzanne Silverstein, founding director of Cedars-Sinai Share and Care, which provides counseling services to students experiencing emotional and academic challenges due to traumatic situations and stresses, said the beginning of the academic year can be a source of stress for parents and families.

“The start of the school year is a good time to strategize for success,” she added.

Parents’ first step is to establish a routine, Silverstein said. For young children, that might mean making lunches and laying out the next day’s outfit before bedtime. For older children, parents could focus on establishing a consistent time for homework, dinner, bath and bedtime.

“Some children need to let off steam when they get home or have some quiet downtime; others need to do homework right away,” Silverstein said. “It’s important to know what will work best for your child and your family. Sticking to a schedule alleviates stress in the morning and sends children to school with a calm mindset.”

Dr. Michelle Escovedo, an adolescent medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, says back to school means back to rules about screen time and social media.

“It is typical for parents to relax those rules during the summer, but once school starts, parents and children need to have a conversation about limits on social media and screen time. Set agreed-upon rules,” Escovedo said. “It could be as simple as no phones during dinner and homework.”

Dr. Priya Soni, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, highlighted the importance of staying up to date on children’s vaccinations.

“It’s a great idea to check in with your pediatrician now to ensure that your child is best protected as they enter the school year,” Soni said. “Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a dramatic decrease in routine vaccinations for children as we were quarantining and social distancing early in the pandemic. This resulted in millions of missed doses of vaccines for U.S. kids. If there have been any gaps in your child’s vaccines being up to date, now is the time to take action to ensure the school year goes as smoothly as possible and your child is protected against vaccine-preventable illnesses.”