Houston pediatrician emphasizes importance of mental and physical health ahead of new school year | Houston Public Media

Children across the Houston area will be heading back to school next week, and setting students up for a successful school year goes beyond the scope of purchasing pencils, paper and a backpack.

Dr. Mehul Patel, a pediatrician at Memorial Hermann Health System, shared key health tips parents should know to help prepare their kids for school during an appearance this week on Hello Houston. He emphasized that nutrition, sleep, limited screen time and regular check-ins can make a significant difference, encouraging parents to monitor their children’s behavior and make daily check-ins part of their routine.

“If you feel like their behavior is a little off, and it’s lasting for more than just a day or two, ask them about it. ‘Hey, you seem like you’re a little tired. Are you ok?’ ” Patel said.

Mental health is impacted by sleep. According to Memorial Hermann, sleep deprivation can not only impact stress hormone levels but can disrupt neurotransmitters, making it harder to think and regulate emotions.

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Patel said no one functions at their best with limited sleep, and parents should ensure their children follow a set sleep schedule. This includes monitoring the time they go to sleep and how long they stay asleep.

“What helps you have uninterrupted sleep … is sleep hygiene, so that’s the no screen time before bed, no caffeine before bed, no sugary things before bed and going to sleep at the same time every night is actually very important,” Patel said.

School districts across the Houston region begin classes next week. That includes Houston ISD, the largest school district in Texas with more than 175,000 students.

As parents count down the days to the 2025-26 school year, Patel said along with a set sleep schedule and daily check-ins, proper nutrition should be top of mind. He encouraged parents to teach kids the difference between healthy and unhealthy foods as well as the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.

“We’re running into a lot of problems with what kids are eating,” Patel said. “People love to blame the school and the cafeteria food, but it’s not just what they are eating at school, it’s what they are eating at home. Most of the time, they are only eating one meal a day at school – maybe breakfast.”