School is back in session which means your kids are out of your control for a good portion of the day. No matter how many times you have stressed to them to not drink or eat after their friends, to wash their hands and then wash them again, to not play with the trash can lid, touch the toilet or lick the bathroom walls, lets face it, you can’t stop them when you aren’t there.
So, what can you do to give their little immune systems a boost now that they are faced with spending their day with 149 other Kindergarteners also sharing their germs and not listening to their Moms.
- Start with a Healthy Diet. If your children eat a diet that consists of a high amount of junk food, their immune system will be lower than if they eat healthy foods. Make sure you know what’s on the menu at school, if you aren’t happy with the choices, or think they won’t choose the right foods, opt for packing a lunch so you have a little say in what they eat.
- Get your entire family started on a multi-vitamin. There are plenty to choose from that are safe even for kids. This will help supplement for the nutrients we may miss out on with picky eaters. Getting all of the nutrients we need will lead to a stronger immune system
- Exercise. What a great excuse to have some family time in the early evenings, and guess what? Exercise also helps stimulate your immune system and who knows, maybe you’ll even drop a pound or two of unwanted weight. Get outside and throw the ball, take a walk or get your child involved in some after school sports.
How can you prepare them to minimize their germ spreading when they aren’t going to be with you?
- Teach your children to wash their hands for as long as it takes them to sing the chorus of their favorite song, such as “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” or “ABCs.
- Teach them to always sneeze into a tissue, or cough into their sleeve or shoulder rather than their hands.
- Find out from your child’s teacher what their policy is on disinfecting their room/toys. Volunteer or organize some of the other Moms in their class to take turns going in to help wipe down their classroom if needed. Many teachers get Moms to come in weekly to help with miscellaneous tasks around the classroom, suggest adding this to the list of things to do.
What steps does your family take to help prevent those pesky little germs from spreading?
