It’s that time of year again when every single person you know seems to be coming down with something. Cold and flu viruses thrive during the cold months as these temperatures are perfect for germs to spread and infect any and all who come into contact with them. One of the main reasons this happens can be blamed on the flu virus being more stable than many of its other viral counterparts and able to linger in the air longer when the air is both dry and cold. The same can be said for germs that cause the common cold. We’re committed to helping parents keep their children healthy. Stay vigilant and help your child dodge the flu with these tips by A Child’s Academy; our team is among the best Gainesville preschool service providers in Florida.
Working in a child educational facility, we at A Child’s Academy, have seen our fair share of sick children. To prevent all of our students from coming down with something this winter, we take plenty of precautions, all of which we wanted to share with you. Keeping your kid healthy during the winter can be a challenge, but it also can be done.
Continue To Encourage Proper Hygiene
While we are sure that you have told your child the importance of hand washing time and time again, placing an emphasis on this is extremely important during the cold months. Make sure your child knows to wash their hands at the following times:
- Before and after all meals
- After coughing and/or sneezing
- After blowing their nose
- After using the restroom
- After playing with toys that have been handled by other children
When your child does wash their hands, make sure they know to wash for about 20 seconds and to make sure they wash their palms, the backs of their hands, in between their fingers, under their fingernails and around their wrist areas. They should also make sure they rinse well and dry with a towel that is both clean and dry.
Place Emphasis On The Importance of Holistic Health
Making sure your child eats well-balanced meals and get enough exercise is also important. This is more your job than it is the job of your child as you are the one who makes their meals and monitors their time when they are not at school. If you have a child with an aversion to vegetables, finding ways that they can enjoy some is imperative. Whether this means that you have to put peanut butter on all of the celery they eat or make them smoothies than contain secret vegetables, find a way to make foods that assist their immune system part of their diet.
Additional Protection
If you are extremely worried about your child getting sick this winter, you may want to consult with your doctor if there are any vitamins that your child should be taking. Taking vitamins can help to boost your immune system, which may help your child fight off any potential infections or viruses. It is likely that your doctor will also tell you to ensure that your child is getting anywhere from 10 to 13 hours of sleep per night if they are under seven years old. This will also help to give them a stronger immune system capable of protecting them from the flu or a cold.
