Helping our youngest Red Sox fans make this school year a home run

Red Sox Scholar students receive 500 backpacks in Boston.

Point32Health, the parent company of Harvard Pilgrim and Tufts Health Plan, had the pleasure of joining the Red Sox Foundation in collaboration with Red Sox legend Keith Foulke to deliver 500 supply-filled backpacks to participating Red Sox Scholar students. As part of Point32Health’s inaugural Volunteer Week, over 1,100 colleagues had a hand in volunteering at over 40 nonprofits across New England. While we stepped up to the plate to help get students geared up for a successful year, adjusting to in-person learning after months of remote/hybrid learning can come with its own set of challenges. Fortunately, there are ways that you can help prepare your kids for the journey ahead.

Try these four tips to set your child up for a successful school year:

Make routines more routine.

Implementing organizational strategies and healthy habits can help kids adjust to a more “normal” school year. Here are some at-home tips for kids of all ages: Set up a shared calendar, establish a dedicated homework area, plan meals ahead, and follow a sleep schedule.

Keep mental health in check.

Helping kids manage stress during this transitional period can teach them to develop healthy coping strategies that’ll last well beyond their school years. Additionally–encouraging kids to reach out if they feel overly stressed, anxious or depressed can help them get the support they need, both in the classroom and at home. Experts recommend keeping an eye on changes from their normal behavior or signs of stress, such as stomach aches and headaches.

Encourage extracurriculars.

Signing up for extracurricular activities, like sports teams, the yearbook club or the school play, can not only help create structure and provide a healthy physical outlet–it can also help develop critical skills they’ll carry into adulthood, such as time management, leadership and persistence. Extracurriculars can also build social skills, friendships and self-esteem as well as creating a sense of belonging.

Focus on good health.

Long before the pandemic, kids were known to be “superspreaders” of germs, so taking precautions and maintaining good hygiene is important for reducing their chances of illness. Here are some healthful suggestions for the 2021-2022 school year:

• Keep an eye on school protocol and communications. Each school may have different rules set in place to best protect students, which could continue to change as the school year and pandemic progress.
• Stay current on vaccines. Check with your pediatrician that your child’s immunizations are up to date to help prevent the spread of illness.
• Emphasize basic hygiene. Handwashing will never go out of style. Use plenty of soap and wash for at least 20 seconds. Also remind your kids to avoid touching their eyes, nose and face – which can help reduce their chances of getting sick and infecting others.

Brought to you by Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, the official Health and Wellness Partner of the Boston Red Sox.