With the kids heading back to school very soon, we can’t help but think of all the illnesses they will be getting and bringing home once they are in the classroom again. Our precious children will be up close and personal with fellow classmates they immediately become friends with (which is so sweet) and picking up the common cold and the flu virus (not so sweet).
But there are some things we can do to protect them and our smaller ones from getting the dreaded cold from their siblings, schools and daycares.
Let’s take a look at 3 ways to protect kids from colds this school year.
1. Good Hand Hygiene
As parents we would hope that this one would be an easy one, but not so the case. We tell our children many times over to wash their hands before eating, after using the restroom, and after they cough or sneeze.
But that can sometimes go over deaf ears, while we think they are washing up they could have easily got distracted…brother Ben throws a ball and hits them in the head during play, but now they have to get even, right? Of course they do!
Here’s a tip, when they walk in the door from school, from daycare, or from a friends house, steer them to the nearest sink and have them wash with soap and warm water, scrubbing thoroughly for 30 seconds.
“An alcohol-based hand sanitizer is equally effective,” says Donald Goldmann, M.D., medical director of infection control and quality improvement at Children’s Hospital, in Boston.
So when there isn’t a sink in site, reach for the hand sanitizer to stop those pesky germs in their tracks. And make sure to use the wipes provided at the supermarket to swipe the cart handle before shopping too.
2. Disinfect Your Home
It’s important to disinfect counters and tabletops, viruses can live on surfaces for as long as 3 hours. And if someone is already sick in the house, wipe the doorknobs, light switches, keyboards, phones and other things that family members share, too. Try wiping them down at least once a day.
Here’s another tip, you can easily find inexpensive recipes for homemade cleaning solutions online that aren’t as strong as those other commercial disinfectants. There are many ingredients out there that are safer and still effective, like vinegar, tea tree oil, and borax.
So if you aren’t keen on using bleach or other harsh chemicals to clean, we found this article on maidbrigade.com on How to Disinfect Your Home Naturally This Cold and Flu Season and natural disinfectant recipes to keep your home clean and germ-free:
- For a natural disinfectant that can be used on floors, countertops, bathtubs, toilets, walls, and baseboards, fill a bucket with 1/2 gallon hot water and 1/4 cup Borax. Mix and clean!
- To make your own natural disinfectant spray, add 4 to 8 drops of essential oil to 1 cup distilled water in a spray bottle. Shake and spray! Examples of oils with anti-fungal properties are eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, and tea tree oil.
- Another natural disinfectant that works wonders in the bathroom can be made by combining 1/2 cup white vinegar, 2 cups hot water, 1 teaspoon washing soda, and 10 drops tea tree oil. Pour into a spray bottle, mix, and spray!
3. Boost Their Immunity
It is even more important to stay healthy and one of the ways to do it is to keep your immune system operating at it’s bests, this includes healthy eating, daily exercise, and getting plenty of rest.
Before and after school offer your child a well-balanced diet which includes fruits, vegetables, milk and water. Foods rich in Vitamin C are also known to strengthen the immune system and help in speeding up recovery when they do become sick.
Another super food is Garlic, it contains antiseptic properties which are known to help protect the immune system against getting that pesky cold in the first place. We know not all children like garlic, but it can be disguised in other foods they do like, such as pasta.
And one of the best ways to make sure they get the right amount of fruits and vegetables, there are plenty of recipes for smoothies out there. Here’s one recipe we found at HappyHealthyMama.com.
Immune Boosting Smoothie
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 small navel oranges, peeled and pulled apart into wedges
1/2 green apple, not peeled, sliced
1 cup raw spinach, packed
2 tablespoons raw honey
A few ice cubes
Place all ingredients, in the order listed, into a blender. Blend until smooth and enjoy. Makes 2 smoothies.
Another way to boost your child’s immune system and improve their overall wellbeing is daily exercise. Most children are generally active which is good, but structured exercise can help them get on a healthy path of exercising that could stick with them throughout their life. Here are some tips on how to get your child exercising.
Lastly, good sleep is important for their immune function. According to experts, they recommend 14 to 15 hours a day for infants, 12 to 14 for toddlers, 11 to 13 for preschoolers and 10 to 11 for school-age kids. Set a routine for your child to follow everyday, this helps with those nights of resistance since they know what to expect ahead of time.
Equally important is a wind-down period before bedtime. “There should be no vigorous activity between a half hour and an hour before bedtime,” Jennifer Shu, MD, a pediatrician with Children’s Medical Group in Atlanta, says. Shu is also co-author of Heading Home with Your Newborn.
She goes on to tell us about her Four B’s: bath, brushing teeth, books and bed. The routine should start somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour before you want your child to be asleep, she says.
It’s important that we stay healthy as well, these steps also pertain to us, parents as well because children aren’t the only ones that get sick. So let’s start living healthier lives and teach our children to do the same. Good luck with a happy and successful new school year!
