Teaching Your Children Healthy Habits To Avoid Sickness This Fall/Winter
During fall and winter, illnesses such as the cold and flu are common. Children can be especially susceptible because their immune systems may still be developing, and a sick kid can easily spread germs and viruses to others in the same class. Fortunately, it is possible to reduce the chances of getting sick, such as practicing good hygiene and boosting the immune system.
Washing Their Hands
Kids are constantly coming into contact with germs, and teaching them proper hand washing techniques is one of the best ways to combat this. Teach them all of the associated steps:
1. Wet the hands with warm water
2. Apply enough soap for both hands and wrists
3. Wash all surfaces of the hands, wrists, and fingers, including the top, bottom, and in-between
4. Rinse the soap off
5. Dry thoroughly with a towel or air dryer
Teach your child to wash hands after sneezing or coughing, before and after handling food, after touching an animal, and after touching garbage.
Personal Hygiene
There are other personal hygiene habits besides washing hands. One is to learn the proper coughing technique to help prevent germ spreading. Teach your child to use the inner part of the elbow to cover the mouth and cough. Another option is to cough or sneeze into a tissue.
Children should wash their hands more frequently during cold and flu season, and they should try and avoid contact with sick kids or adults.
Eat Healthy
Keeping the immune system strong is important to avoid sickness, and eating healthy foods is one of the best ways. Some immune boosting nutrients and good food sources include:
- Vitamin D: Rainbow trout, salmon, canned light tuna, mushrooms, dairy products, and fortified orange juice
- Vitamin C: Red bell peppers, citrus fruits, guava, tomato juice, strawberries, broccoli, pineapple, kiwi, and brussels sprouts
- Zinc: Red meat, oysters, mussels, shrimp, legumes, eggs, and dairy products
- Selenium: Brazil nuts, salmon, halibut, chicken, eggs, mushrooms, cottage cheese, and grass-fed beef
- Vitamin A: Beef liver, sweet potatoes, cod liver oil, carrots, spinach, sweet red pepper, mango, and broccoli
Although organic whole foods are generally the best ways to access these important nutrients, some children are picky eaters and may avoid many of the recommended foods. Fortunately, supplements are also an option. A good organic multivitamin contains many of the nutrients in one form, but you can buy vitamins and minerals separately. There are also supplements that are specifically designed to boost the immune system.
Stay Active
Getting enough exercise is always important for children, and it is a good habit to learn early. Moderate exercise keeps the immune system strong, and it also helps one maintain a healthy weight, which helps one avoid getting sick. Help your child find an activity that he or she enjoys so that it is fun to do on a regular basis.
It is almost impossible to avoid exposure to germs during the fall and winter. However, you can avoid getting sick by exercising, eating well, washing your hands, and using immunity liquid drops toddler to keep the immune system strong.
