Between the grimy hands of fellow students, the strange germs imported from every corner of the globe and the impending change in the weather, it's an unavoidable certainty that sooner or later your children will come home from school sick.  With a little vigilance, however, there's a lot you can do to prevent those inevitable runny noses.  Below, you can find some tips to keep those germs on the defensive and keep your body healthy.

1. Hand Washing

The best way to teach anything to young children is by making it fun, making a game out of it, and by teaching and role modelling what to do through your own behaviour. 

Make hand washing a regular part of toileting, meal time, diaper changing etc. both for yourself and for the children. This will help everyone remember, because it will become second nature. For example, when children arrive at school or get ready for lunch, they know that the first thing they must do is wash their hands. Keep in mind that young children are visual and kinetic leaners. This means they learn best by seeing and doing rather than just hearing.

2. Hand Sanitisers

You can supply your child with hand sanitizers. Brands with low alcohol content and a bit of Aloe Vera are preferable.

3. Vaccinations

A good doctor should always inform you which vaccinations are suitable for your child. When going abroad, you should always check in good time to find out which vaccinations are needed for the country you are planning to visit. Make sure your child's vaccinations are up to date. Adults need to keep their vaccination records up to date too. Most vaccinations are refreshed after 10 years. Immunization helps your child's immune system do its work. The child develops protection against future infections, in the same way as if he or she had been exposed to the natural disease. The good news is that with vaccines, your child does not have to get sick first to get that protection!

4. Nutrition

If you prepare healthy foods for your family and eat healthy foods yourself, your child will eat more healthily too.  Make sure you prepare a variety of foods, so your family gets all the vitamins and minerals their bodies need to function properly. By helping your child eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly, you can reduce his or her risk of experiencing numerous health problems.

Breakfast: The first meal of the day is a good time to give your child foods that are high in fiber. Whole-grain breads, cereals, fruits, low-fat or non-fat cheeses and yogurt are also good breakfast meals. Fruit juice is usually high in calories and has less nutrients than whole fresh fruits.

Lunch: Try whole-grain breads and tolls to make a healthier sandwich. Whole grains increase the total fibre in your child's diet and are less processes than enriched white bread. Give your child whole-grain crackers and always serve fresh fruit (with the skin) with meals instead of chips or other high-calorie options.

5. Water

We have heard it a thousand times before...drinking water at least 6 to 8 glasses of water every day will cure much of what ails you. Drinking water keeps the whole body functioning properly: Two thirds of our bodies consist of water (this includes kidneys, digestions, blood circulation). The liver cannot work properly without enough fluids. To keep your body hydrated, make sure you drink plenty of water, tea or juice (with no added sugar) diluted with water.

6. Rest

The younger the children are, the more sleep they need. Toddlers need 10-12 hours of sleep while adults need on average 6-8 hours a day. Every child is different and some may need less but make sure your child gets plenty of quality sleep. Sleep deficit is proved to harm our physical health.

7. Stay at home

Is your child coughing, does he have a bad runny nose, is she not 100% or just not herself?  If you recognise that your children are becoming sick you should definitely leave them at home.  Otherwise they will pass on their germs and infect other children, or they might pick up other germs while their bodies are still weakened and struggling to fight their original cough or cold.

It also makes sense to leave your child at home for a few more days after being sick, to recover properly.  When brought back to school too early, the body hasn't recovered yet and the infection might return or they will pick up the next illness.  Do you fancy the idea of someone coughing/sneezing at you or your child with a yellowy-green nose discharge?!

Children need to be free of symptoms and without medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school, and even longer is sometimes advisable.  Often, they seem fine in the morning and start begging you to take them to school, but remember that your child has been resting all night.  Make sure for a day that the fever or symptoms don't return so they can attend school fresh and recovered and can cope with the expectations at school.

8. Exercise

Everyone can benefit from regular exercise. Children who are active will:

• have stronger muscles and bones
• feel happier and well balanced due to body released hormones
• be less likely to become overweight
• decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes or other diseases
• possibly have lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels
• have a better outlook in life

In addition to the health benefits of regular exercise, children who are physically active sleep better and are more able to handle the physical and emotional challenges that a typical day presents.

 

Though a certain amount of childhood sickness is a fact of life and necessary for building up the immune system, taking a few pre-emptive measures to fight it can go a long way to avoiding the inconvenience and heartbreak of seeing your little ones so miserable.  After all, as noted scholar Desiderius Erasmus once said, "Prevention is better than cure."