As parents, your main role and responsibility is to ensure your children are happy, safe, and healthy. Once your children reach school age, they will learn and develop all sorts of social skills that can help them become independent individuals, however, school can be a place where they pick up different kinds of illnesses and germs that they may bring into the home. With children spending a lot of time in a classroom, infections can easily be transferred to one another, so here are 7 useful tips on how to keep your kids happy and healthy during the school year.
Proper Hand Washing
When your children are away at school, there are lots of nasty bugs and illnesses that they can receive, so one of the most important things that you can do is teach your little ones how to wash their hands properly. Most importantly, you need to ensure they’re washing after blowing their noise, before eating, or after using the bathroom, as this can help reduce their chance of becoming sick, as well as reducing the risk of them infecting others if they catch an illness or infection.
Boosting their Immune System
As a parent, it’s important that you keep your child’s immune system strong, helping to ward off any illnesses throughout the school year, whether it’s by getting enough sleep, incorporating regular exercise into their routine, or maintaining a healthy diet. All of these tips can help reduce your child’s risk of getting a cold, flu, or other types of infections.
Preventing Cold and Flu
If your child is prone to getting a cold or flu, it can be heartbreaking to see them in distress, especially as you’re unable to take their pain away. Teaching your kids important healthy habits can help reduce the risk of them developing such infections. Some healthy habits that your kids should know include not touching their eyes, or not sharing utensils or cups with their friends. Knowledge is power, so the more you teach them and drill it into them, the more aware they will be.
Set Good Sleep Habits
If your child isn’t getting enough sleep before school, they may wake up feeling rundown and be cranky. Your child needs to have plenty of energy and motivation to excel at school, so if you have noticed a difference in their concentration levels, it could be because they’re not getting enough shuteye. Sleep is crucial for all of us, so whether it’s by limiting electronic stimulants, creating a comfortable room for them to sleep in, or curbing their caffeine intake (commonly found in chocolate and soda), your child’s sleep should begin to improve.
Look for Stress and Anxiety
With a mountain of homework, tests to revise for, not to mention all the social pressures that dominate them in the world we live in today, it’s no surprise that children are facing a lot of stressful situations that can bring on anxiety. If you’ve noticed a change in your child’s behavior, it could be because they’re feeling anxious and worried. As parents, we don’t want to see our loved ones struggle, so always make sure that you’re on hand to listen to their thoughts and feelings. And if they don’t feel comfortable talking to you, you may want to suggest looking for a professional teen therapist in Denver, or in your local area, who they can talk to instead. Having your child open up to you can help when it comes to managing their anxiety better.
Provide a Healthy Breakfast
They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day (and for good reason too!). For your child to excel in their schooling, you should prepare a balanced breakfast that’s packed with low-fat protein and complex carbohydrates, which can help improve brain function and maintain a steady level of stamina and energy throughout the day. Kicking their day off to a good start can boost their mood and help them prepare for a day of learning. It’s just as important for your kids to be following a healthy, balanced diet too, so make sure that they eat plenty of fruits and vegetables which can provide them with tons of health benefits. No one is saying they can’t have a sweet treat from time to time, however, but all in moderation!
See a Pediatrician
No matter how much experience you have as a parent, there may be times when you’re struggling. If you need a helping hand, you may want to consider contacting a pediatrician who can stand by your side in helping to keep your child happy, safe, and healthy as they grow. When looking for the best pediatrician, look for reputable clinics. One example can be seen through the team at KMP who have 28 years of experience in helping parents and children in all avenues of life. You can learn more about their doctors and services on their website, which is always worth looking into before you book an appointment with a pediatrician.
Whether you’ve got toddlers running around the home, or you’ve just given birth, there are all sorts of stresses and worries that you will experience as a parent. Remember, it’s totally normal to want what’s best for your child and to feel anxious from time to time, so to give your kid the best start in life, using any of the tips listed can help them grow into happy, healthy, and responsible adults.