4 Ways to support your child’s health
School is well under way, and the weather is cooling down. There are so many great things to love about fall! Changing colors in the trees, cooler temps, fall pumpkins, and fun school days. We want to make sure our kids’ immune systems are supported this time of year, and all year, so we can enjoy the fun activities that all the seasons have to offer! There are a few things we try to do each day that help.
Making sure our children stay healthy throughout the school year is important, but it doesn’t have to be impossible! Here are 5 tips for keeping your kids healthy throughout the school year:
1. Stay hydrated: encourage your kids to pack a reusable water bottle with them to school since they can’t always get up to go to the drinking fountain in the middle of class. Most teachers encourage their students to bring bottles to school as long as they are clear so teachers know what’s in them.
2. Eat a balanced breakfast: encourage your kids to start their day with a balanced meal so they are fueled and energized for the day.
3. Wash hands often: help your kids understand the importance of hand washing and using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as needed (avoid anything with triclosan). It’s important for kids to know how to prevent the spread of germs by good hand washing practices.
4. Sleep well: growing children need plenty of good quality sleep, typically much more that most adults. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that school aged children 6-13 get between 9-11 hours of sleep each night. Quality sleep is important for proper development for children and can keep their immune system running smoothly.