How To Keep Your Child Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

The holidays are rapidly approaching, which means the next few months are going to be chaotic for many people!

During the winter, children have to keep up with their families, and parents can often forget to keep up with their health. Don’t wait! Here’s how to keep your child healthy during cold and flu season.

Reduce Stress

Once school starts in the fall, the end-of-year festivities kick off almost immediately. Kids may feel a bit more stressed with homework, tests, and chores. During the holidays, it’s especially important for them to practice stress-reducing techniques to maintain healthy immune systems.

Try introducing meditation to your child and doing it with them to establish a healthy mental health routine. There are many guided meditation tracks for children that you can follow along with during their holiday break.

Nurture Better Sleep

When a child does not get proper sleep, their immune system may be less effective in fighting off colds that often visit during the colder months.

Be sure to encourage a set evening and morning routine to promote a steady circadian rhythm so your child’s body can get the rest it needs at night. If possible, daytime naps may provide additional benefits depending on their age and activity level.

Encourage Handwashing

As most children are now attending in-person classes, they may neglect to practice the basic hygiene steps of washing their hands and utilizing hand sanitizer when needed.

Attending school with other children creates an environment where germs and bacteria can thrive, so it’s important for your children to be attentive about the germs they come into contact with.

Promote Physical Activity

During the holiday break, most kids want to relax, and while it is vital to their mental recovery after their fall semester, it’s also critical to be active during this time as well.

This may include building a snowman together, taking a walk around the neighborhood, or taking them to the local playground to get their activity in every day!

Establish a Well-Balanced Diet

Perhaps the most essential way to keep your child healthy during cold and flu season is to encourage healthy snacking in their daily routines. Kids are always on the go, and they need the proper vitamins and protein to keep their bodies strong and healthy.

Try meal-prepping snacks to take with you in the car, like carrot sticks or apple slices. Getting an adequate number of fruits and vegetables helps them fight off illness during the winter months.

Help your child maintain proper health by encouraging activity, providing them with a well-balanced diet, and encouraging proper stress-reducing techniques. With these wholesome habits, your child will get better sleep and stay healthy throughout the holidays and the year.