Healthy Return to School Checklist

CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

backpack for school

Healthy Return to School Checklist

Make sure your kids have what they need to stay healthy and safe at school.

Daughter wearing backpack walking with her parent

Backpack
Emergency Card

to provide emergency
contact info [PDF – 134 KB]

Sanitizing hands

Hand Sanitizer
& Tissues

to avoid spreading germs to others

exclamation mark

Hand sanitizer should be used with adult supervision for children under 6 years of age.

Health food

Healthy Breakfast,
Lunch, & Snacks

to encourage good nutrition
throughout the day

Girl holding a refillable water bottle

Reusable
Water Bottle

to stay hydrated and
avoid sugary drinks

Children playing outside

Sneakers &
Loose-Fitting Clothing

to make it easy to be active

Father helping daughter ride a bike

Helmet

to prevent serious head or brain injuries if they bike to school

Child getting insect repellent put on him

Insect Repellent

to protect from mosquitoes,
ticks, and other insects

Child wearing sun protecting clothing

Sunscreen, Hat, Sunglasses,
Long Sleeves, & Pants

to protect from the sun


cleaning hands

hand washing

HANDWASHING

Prevent the spread of germs. Teach your kids the five handwashing steps—wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry—and the key times to wash hands, such as after using the bathroom or before eating.

people 6 feet apart

MENTAL HEALTH

Your kids’ mental health plays a role in the way they learn, behave, and develop. Learn more about transitioning back to school.

For more information about how to prevent chronic disease and maintain a healthy lifestyle,
follow @CDCChronic on Twitter or visit www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease.

Healthy Return to School Checklist [PDF – 1 MB]

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Page last reviewed: September 15, 2022