Food safe lunchboxes

Keeping children fuelled with healthy and safe food to get through the school day is important.  The Australian summer heat can make this task more challenging for school lunchboxes, especially when they could be left in school bags for up to 5 hours. 

Did you know bacteria that causes food poisoning can grow between 5^oC and 60^oC? 

Studies in NSW tested the number of bacteria found in school lunches and the bags or containers they were packed in.   

The study found sandwiches in lunchboxes or lunch bags without an ice brick: 

• got to almost the same temperature as the outdoor temperature (25^oC)
• had bacteria 14 times higher than the starting levels. 

Protect your kids from food poisoning: 

• include an ice brick or frozen drink inside their lunchbox or bag
• teach kids to keep their bags in the shade, in a locker or the classroom if allowed
• use an insulated lunch box or cooler bag where available. 

Asthma

Ahead of the new school year, we have some tips to help ensure your child is asthma ready for their return to the classroom. 

Friendships

The start of the school year can be an exciting or scary time for your child.   

Friendships are important to a child’s social and emotional development.  Parts of friendship can change depending on the age and the life stage. For example, supporting a child of pre-school age to make friends is different to how a teenager would make friends, especially at a new school or in their first year of high-school. 

Friendships can be positive, and others, involving peer pressure or bullying can have a negative impact on a child or young person's mental health and well-being. 

For information on friendships and supporting a child or young person’s social, emotional and mental well-being see the Social and emotional development sections for each of the age groups on our Child development page.   

See the Supporting your child’s mental health page for topics on recognising mental health concerns and strategies to support your child.