Your child spends a great deal of time at school, and when one child is sick, you know it’s only a matter of time before your little one gets sick too. Taking a sick day might be a smiling point for your child, but it can require an expensive trip to the doctor.
Subscribing to parenting apps for the health tip of the day might be one way to reduce illness for your child, but ensuring your child is supported holistically might help keep him or her healthy throughout the school year. Here are our ten best tips to keep children healthy at school.
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Wash your hands
Hand washing is a simple task that can help combat a myriad of illnesses. Help your children train in the habit of regular hand washing before and after every toilet trip, as well as before and after every meal.
Boost immunity
Make sure your child is fully immunized, but also keep their immune system strong. Boost your whole family’s immune systems through sufficient sleep, exercise, healthy snacks, and reduced stress. With a strong immune system, any illness is less severe.
Practice healthy habits
Teach your child proper sneezing and coughing etiquette to prevent the spread of germs. Sneezing into your elbow means your hands are kept free of germs. Cough into your sleeve for the same reason. If you happen to use your hands, wash them immediately.
Reduce stress
Homework can be really stressful for children. When they need to research and write assignments, they might find it overwhelming, and stress weakens the immune system.
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Stay hydrated
Growing healthy children requires a lot of water. While your child may prefer juice, water hydrates completely and is healthy. Staying hydrated improves brain function and mood, helps in weight management, and prevents fatigue.
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Have regular health checks
Even healthy children require regular trips to the doctor, dentist, optometrist, and audiologist to ensure they are performing at their best. Poor vision and hearing can lead to your child acting out because they are experiencing difficulty. It can also be a stressing point if they don’t understand the problem.
Let sick children stay home
Sending a sick child to school puts other children at risk. You may not be aware of immunocompromised children who go to your child’s school. For them, the common cold can be life-threatening. Sending your child to school when they are sick also delays the healing process.
Backpack safety
Books are heavy, and a heavy backpack can cause back and neck problems. Make sure your child’s backpack has two straps and adequate padding, and that it doesn’t exceed 10% of your child’s weight. Try reminding your children to always use both straps to distribute weight more evenly.
Screen time limitations
Children use computers and phones to research homework. This may result in them already staring at a screen for hours a day. Reduce screen time for entertainment to a maximum of two hours a day. Excess screen time reduces melatonin levels and disrupts circadian cycles.
Reduce sharing – especially with food
Not knowing the hygiene habits of the other children may put your children at risk. While sharing is important, teach your children not to share things at the food table to avoid unnecessary risk of getting sick from someone who might have forgotten to wash their hands.
Conclusion
Wrapping your child in bubble wrap may not be an option, and school is an unavoidable fact of life. While your child may still fall ill at some point in their school career, practicing healthy habits and good hygiene can reduce the severity of the illness.
Use the above tips to teach your children ways to keep themselves healthy, while protecting others if they do happen to get sick. These healthy habits will last your child into adulthood, meaning you have given them the best start in life.
Author Bio:
Elizabeth Skinner is a child development counselor and a mental health writer for a leading digital publication in psychology. She also works as an academic writer, helping students to learn the art of writing and use art therapy to reduce their stress and come out with flying colors in their classroom.