10 Tips to Help Your Kids Stay Healthy in School

The school year will be starting soon! Although this may be exciting, it's definitely important to be prepared! Unfortunately, not all kids will be 100% healthy 100% of the time--which means your child may be exposed to something. Help your child avoid the flu, those colds and stomach bugs that come along at school. Here are 10 tips to help your student stay healthy and free from illnesses this school year!

Tip 1

Make sure your child eats breakfast! It's the most important meal of the day for a reason. A nutritious breakfast will help give your child the energy and nutrients they need to power through their school day.

Tip 2

Pack healthy snacks and lunch options. This one is key--if you pack unhealthy snacks and lunches, your child is more likely to eat them! Fill their lunchbox with fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and lean proteins. And for snacks, opt for items like trail mix, yogurt or fruit cups.

Tip 3

Encourage (or require) regular hand-washing. Hand-washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs and illness. Make sure your child knows how to properly wash their hands, and encourage them to do so often throughout the day.

Tip 4

Teach (or remind) your child about cough etiquette. Coughing and sneezing into their elbow or a tissue is the best way to prevent the spread of germs. And if they use a tissue, make sure they throw it away afterwards!

Tip 5

Keep kids home when they're sick. This one is important--if your child is sick, keep them home from school! Not only will this help them get better faster, but it also prevents them from spreading their illness to others.

Tip 6

Encourage healthy habits at home. Help your child avoid getting sick in the first place by encouraging healthy habits at home. This means things like eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly.

Tip 7

Make sure vaccinations are up to date. One of the best ways to protect your child from illnesses is to make sure they're up to date on their vaccinations. Check with your child's doctor or school nurse to make sure they're current on all recommended vaccines.

Tip 8

Make sure you're sanitizing the surfaces of your home. Even if your child is healthy, they can still bring germs into the house. To help prevent this, make sure you're regularly cleaning and sanitizing surfaces in your home, like doorknobs, countertops and light switches.

Tip 9

Teach them about being careful with how they share snacks or drinks. For example, using the same water bottle all day long can lead to germs being spread around.It's good to teach them to be generous, but it's also important to teach them how to share without getting infected.

Tip 10

This one may be obvious, but it's important to teach your kids about giving sick kids a little bit of extra space. If someone is coughing or sneezing a lot, it's probably best to keep their distance until they're feeling better.

By following these tips, you can help your child stay healthy and illness-free this school year! What other tips do you have for staying healthy during the school year? Share them with us in the comments below!

 

 

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