Ways to Keep Kids Healthy During the School Year
In recent years, while the world grappled with the new realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, many kids were asked to study from home to keep them safe from the virus. However, as scientists learn more about the virus and manufacture vaccines that help fight the diseases, the rules against going outside are getting relaxed and kids can once again go back to school.
Many parents, though happy to see the kids go back to school, still worry about keeping the kids safe and healthy all through the school year. Fortunately, there are ways to keep kids disease-free all through the year. Here are a few tips that can help every parent keep their children in good health while they are in school.
4 Tips for Keeping Kids Healthy
Follow these guidelines to keep your children healthy all year round.
- Follow the CDC Guidance FOR Covid-19 Prevention in School Kids
The CDC has established some guidelines to help protect school-aged kids from viruses and diseases. These rules are pretty simple and easy to follow. They include making sure that the kids have the appropriate vaccines, social distancing, hand washing, and respiratory etiquette, staying home when ill, among other guidelines.
The use of masks indoors is also strongly advised, though this particular rule is currently being strongly debated, with many countries now considering permitting citizens to go unmasked indoors. However, one cannot ignore the impact of facial coverings on the prevention of unwanted respiratory droplets of others.
While asking children to wear face coverings, parents must also consider the impact of these coverings on oral health. There have been reports of increased cases of tooth decay, gum disease and halitosis developed from the prolonged use of face masks. Parents, whose kids wear masks to school, must ensure that kids maintain optimal oral health while wearing them. According to Napa Family Dental, a team of dentist in Albuquerque; You cannot help your child achieve complete health and wellbeing without tackling their oral health.
- Provide Foods that Boost the Immune System
There’s a lot of debate among scientists about whether ‘immune-boosting’ foods exist. However, it is a fact that eating a varied diet of nutritious foods can help the overall health and function of your immune cells among other cells in the body. Junk food, on the other hand, cannot keep one healthy.
Certain diets help fortify the body in case of excess inflammation and microbial attacks. Certain important nutrients must be part of your child's diet to keep them protected from diseases. These include nutrients that drive the growth of the immune system. Such nutrients include vitamin D, zinc, vitamin C, iron, protein, among others. These nutrients can be found in different types of plants and animal products.
A diet that contains pro-biotic foods is also strongly recommended for school-aged kids. Pro-biotic foods are foods that contain live useful bacteria that protect the gut and the immune system. Examples of probiotic foods include yogurts and fermented vegetables. There are several other important reasons why probiotic foods should be a regular part of your diet
Some parents may choose to give their kids these important nutrients through daily supplements such as vitamin C tablets or syrup, however, children who eat a healthy diet do not need these supplements and parents should always consult the child’s doctor before giving supplements.
- Ensure that They Are Getting Sufficient Rest and Sleep Daily
Schoolwork can sometimes get intense even for young children. No matter what school project they are currently in or what big exam they’re preparing to take, kids must get enough sleep to stay healthy. Studies show that lack of adequate sleep can affect kids in several ways. Some of such ways include: putting on weight, losing concentration, getting injured at school, depression, and even suicide.
Good sleep plays an important role, not just in health but in how well kids perform in school. A well-rested child is more likely to be more physically and emotionally well than one who barely gets any sleep at night.
The older kids get, the more school work they have to do, which may make them want to postpone bedtime until much later at night. As long as they are still of school-age, parents must hold the responsibility of setting acceptable bedtime schedules and also monitoring kids to know when they are overwhelmed by schoolwork.
- Make Sure They Get Enough Physical Activity
It’s never too early to make physical activity a compulsory part of kids’ routine. Ways to do this include taking them on an occasional walk, a weekend visit to the community pool, or letting them ride their bikes in the evenings. They should also be encouraged to take part in physical activities organized at schools such as gymnastics, martial arts, or team sports. Physical activity does not just help a child stay healthy; it also helps improve their self-esteem. A lot of kids would rather spend time in front of a TV/computer screen than take a walk. For this reason, it's every parent's responsibility to set a limit to screen time and create lasting healthy routines involving physical activity.