Preparing Your Child with Asthma for a Healthy School Year

Sending your child back to school can be nerve-wracking if your child has asthma. New routines, environments, and exposures can affect your child's asthma control. With preparation and a few key strategies, you can help your child stay healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

Understanding Asthma and School Challenges

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe when triggered by certain factors like allergens, exercise, or respiratory infections. At school, your child may be exposed to triggers such as dust, mold, pollen, or even stress. All of these can provoke asthma symptoms. Understanding these challenges is the first step in protecting your child’s health.

Steps to Prepare Your Child

• Schedule a Check-Up Before the School Year Begins:  Make an appointment with your child’s doctor. This visit is the time to review your child’s asthma action plan—a written plan that outlines how to manage asthma on a daily basis and what to do during an asthma attack. Update any prescriptions, and make sure your child’s inhaler or other medications are current and have not expired.

• Communicate with the School: It’s important to tell the school about your child’s asthma. Give a copy of the asthma action plan to the school nurse, teachers, and any other relevant staff. Discuss where your child’s medication will be kept and make sure that staff are trained on how to use it. If your child is old enough, teach them how to recognize symptoms and use their inhaler.

• Create a Trigger-Free Environment:  You can’t control everything in a school setting, but you can take steps to minimize your child’s exposure to asthma triggers. For example, ask about the school’s policies on pets, cleaning products, and mold prevention. Teach your child to wash their hands frequently to avoid respiratory infections and to stay away from areas with known allergens, such as certain plants or dusty environments.

• Build a Healthy Routine: A strong immune system can make a significant difference in how well your child manages asthma. Build a routine that includes a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, regular physical activity that is appropriate for their asthma, and plenty of sleep. This holistic approach not only supports lung health but also overall well-being.

• Teach Your Child About Asthma: Tell your child about their condition in a way that empowers them. They should know what triggers their asthma, how to avoid those triggers, and what to do if they experience symptoms. This helps them feel more confident and less anxious about managing asthma at school.

• Get Regular Exercise: Physical activity can help strengthen respiratory muscles, improve cardiovascular fitness, boost the immune system, and increase lung capacity. Always ask your child's doctor about safe exercise options and asthma management.

Managing Asthma With Confidence

It’s natural to worry about your child’s health when you’re not with them. By taking these steps, you’re helping your child and their school handle asthma effectively. With your guidance and the school’s support, your child can thrive both academically and physically.

Asthma doesn’t have to stand in the way of your child’s bright future. By preparing ahead of time and staying connected with your child’s school, you can help them enjoy a healthy, successful school year.  

To learn more about managing asthma, visit https://aafa.org/.