School is a place where kids learn and grow cognitively, develop social skills, and become independent individuals. Children also spend a lot of time in classrooms where they can easily pick up germs and illnesses and transfer infections to one another. It’s essential that kids learn healthy habits—such as handwashing, getting sufficient sleep, and eating nutritious meals—early on. By helping kids establish some important habits, parents can show them how to make health a priority during the school year
- Get Current on All Vaccines
Vaccines are the best way to prevent the spread of 16 different diseases, and during the pandemic, there was a steep drop in the number of children who received all the vaccines they need on time.
COVID-19 vaccines are now approved for use in children older than 6 months of age. See your child’s pediatrician to schedule their COVID-19 vaccine appointment, and make sure your child has all the immunizations they need, including the seasonal flu vaccine. Everyone in your family should get it by the end of October.
2.Teach Proper Hand Washing
Teach kids how to wash their hands properly—and when to do it (after blowing their nose, using the bathroom, and before eating). This helps reduce their risk of getting sick and in turn, from infecting others.
Be sure to assist young children with washing their hands. When hand washing is not possible, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol is the next best way to kill germs that cause COVID-19 and other illnesses, according to the CDC.
- Help the Immune System Function Well
The most effective way to prevent disease is through vaccination. There is growing interest among parents in giving kids supplements like elderberry, or extra doses of vitamins such as vitamin C, but you should always consult with your child’s doctor before giving them supplements of any kind.
- Establish Good Sleep Hygiene
Making sure your children get enough sleep is a crucial part of keeping them healthy. In fact, studies show that missing sleep can affect kids in a number of ways. Lack of sleep can lead to poor concentration, obesity, depression, suicidal ideation, and injuries.
Not only is sleep an important part of a child’s physical and emotional health; it also can play a role role in how well they do in school. And research suggests that kids are sleeping less than they did years ago.
A meta-analysis of nearly 700,000 children from 20 different countries found that children’s sleep has decreased by approximately 1 hour per night over the past century, with the rate of change being greatest on school days.
Even older kids can benefit from having a set bedtime. Also try to incorporate predictability into their schedules and give reassurance if stress or uncertainty is interfering with sleep.
5.Offer Healthy Snacks
Kids are often ravenous after school. But you don’t have to sacrifice good nutrition for convenience. Nutritious after-school snacks can be just as quick, easy, and tasty as processed picks.
Snacks are also important because—when combined with healthy meals—they help kids get the nutrients they need. Plus, having small snacks spaced between meals reinforces the idea that kids should eat small meals and eat when they are hungry. This helps them build healthy eating habits.