New shoes. Fresh school clothes. A shiny pencil case. New friends and exciting learning ahead – the start of a school year is always buzzing with energy!
Whether your family has just arrived in Switzerland or you’ve been here for years, La Rentrée (as it’s called in the French-speaking regions) is the perfect moment to pause, reset, and get organised.
Discover our 8 key items every parent should have on their back-to-school health checklist to help your family start the school year healthy, happy, and ready for whatever comes next.
Tip 1: Keep the School in the Know
If your child has allergies, asthma, diabetes, seizures, or any other health needs, make sure their school is fully informed. Complete those start-of-year health forms in detail – it helps staff respond quickly and keep your child safe during the school day.
Tip 2: Medication Matters
Does your child need daily meds or emergency treatments like an EpiPen®? Make sure the school knows, has the medication on hand, staff are trained to give it, and expiry dates are checked. Work with your child’s doctor and the school on a care plan so everyone’s clear on when and how it should be used.
Tip 3: Vaccinate, Vaccinate, Vaccinate
Back-to-school is the perfect time to check your child’s vaccinations are up to date. Moving countries or busy schedules can mean boosters get missed, so make sure everyone in the family is covered. Swiss vaccination recommendations are available in French, German, and Italian – staying on schedule keeps your child healthy and ready for the school year!
Tip 4: Unwell at School – What’s Your Plan?
Make sure the school has up-to-date contact info and knows who can collect your child if they fall ill. Have a backup plan with a family member, neighbour, or friend – and make sure your child knows what to do too.
Tip 5: Time for a Check-Up?
Back-to-school is the perfect time for a routine check-up with your family doctor or paediatrician. Don’t forget eyes, ears, growth, and a dental visit! New to the area? Ask other parents for local doctor and dentist recommendations.
Tip 6: Emergency Preparedness
Make sure your family knows who to call in an emergency: in Switzerland dial 144 for ambulance, or 112 Europe-wide. Teach kids 112 with the “1 mouth, 1 nose, 2 eyes” trick, and consider downloading the EchoSOS Emergency App for GPS-based emergency help in many countries worldwide. Also, check local out-of-hours doctor contacts for less urgent situations – being prepared reduces stress!
Tip 7: Back-Breaking Backpacks
Keep backpacks light – the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 10-15% of your child’s body weight. Choose a lightweight bag with broad, padded shoulder straps, a padded back, and a waist strap to prevent back pain and injury.
Tip 8: The Dreaded Head Lice!
Most parents hope to avoid head lice as a ‘back-to-school’ gift. Two myths busted: they like clean hair just as much as dirty hair, and treatment is only needed if live lice are found. The Children and Young People’s Health Service in Geneva has a great brochure (available in English and other languages) on how to spot and treat them – definitely worth a read!
