COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Summer vacation is coming to an end as many central Ohio students are packing up their bookbags for the upcoming school year. As this can be an exciting time for kids, this could be a change in their sleep schedules, activities and potentially their health.

According to Dr. Mike Patrick with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, getting enough sleep is an important factor in keeping students healthy.

“Anywhere between 8 and 10 hours of sleep a night,” said Patrick. “It is a little different for each kid. … Ultimately, you want them feeling great the next day.”

Children could face illnesses as they go back to school. One of the biggest risks for students in the fall is the flu, particularly for children who already have underlying health issues including asthma or congenital heart disease.

“Getting an annual flu vaccine is going to reduce risks for that,” said Patrick. “If you get the flu vaccine and you get the flu, but you’re not sick enough to be in the hospital, then it did its job.”

Other vaccinations that protect children from tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, and HPV are recommended. Patrick encourages parents and their children to see a doctor before the start of the school year while having home COVID-19 tests on hand. Dr. Patrick noted that he’s seeing more COVID cases in the community right now.

“It’s not as severe as it once was because most of us have some sort of protection and we’ve been exposed to it,” said Patrick. “There are still pockets that could get really sick with COVID and it’s still recommended if kids test positive, that they stay home for five days.”

Other ways kids can stay healthy while going back to school is by making sure they are eating food that is fueling their bodies, never skipping breakfast and staying active through sports or playtime after the school day.

To watch the full interview with Dr. Mike Patrick, view the video player below.