Getting sick is a fact of life for kids, especially around this time of year. There are smart steps you can take, however, to help reduce their number of sick days. Besides encouraging your kids to wash their hands often, keep the following tips in mind:
1– Make sure they get enough sleep:
Ensure that your child is getting the proper amount of sleep for their age. The body needs that down time for repairs and re-energizing. Not sure how much sleep your child should be getting? Check out the National Sleep Foundations latest recommendations.
2 – Get outside and move it, move it!
Getting outside provides so many advantages to everyone’s overall health, both physical and mental. Not only can you can get some much needed vitamin D (which is essential to the immune system), it’s almost impossible to go outside and not move (regular exercise is known to strengthen the immune system). Plus, nothing clears the mind like fresh air.
3 – Healthy Eating:
Don’t underestimate the power of food when it comes to keeping you and your little ones healthy. Supercharge your kid’s immune system by serving up these nutritional powerhouses:
- brightly coloured veggies which are rich in vitamin A (which helps the body fight infections)
- bright, juicy berries like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are high in vitamin C and antioxidants (which help the body repair cells).
- yogurt: healthy bacteria such as lactobacillus in probiotic yogurt protect against gastrointestinal illnesses and help increase the body’s resistance to colds and other infections.
- citrus fruits contain loads of vitamin C
- salmon and tuna are loaded with vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids which help supercharge the body’s white blood cells (key players in fighting infections)
4 – Chill out and make time for play!
High levels of stress are directly correlated with a person’s health and kids are especially susceptible to the effects of cortisol (the hormone produced when we feel stressed or anxious).
It’s easy to tell when we’re feeling stressed, but figuring out if a child is feeling anxious can be more difficult. Watch for symptoms such as frequent head and stomach aches, nail biting, difficulty sleeping and decreased performance at school.
If you think your child might be stressed, talk to them, allow them to make their own decisions about certain things so they feel empowered, ensure they’re eating and sleeping well and cut back on extra-curricular activities so they have enough time to just be kids.
Hang in there parents – we are over the hump and spring is coming…eventually:/
~D.
