The following are some great back to school health tips:
Tip one: Hand washing.Kids spread germs and illness because many do not wash their hands enough, and often touch their food and faces after touching someone or something full of germs. So, if you want to stay healthy this year, teach your kids to wash their hands frequently. Attach a bottle of hand sanitizer to their backpacks for quick and easy application.
Tip two: Vitamin C.Get plenty of vitamin C to help boost the immune system so that your child can fight off the various bacteria and germs that lead to the sniffles, snuffles, coughs, colds, etc. Include orange juice in their breakfast and foods rich in vitamin C throughout the day. If necessary, supplement.
Tip three: Get to bed on time.The body rejuvenates and repairs while sleeping. If your child does not get enough sleep, their health will decline. For a healthier child, proper rest is a necessity. Most school age kids need a minimum of 9 hours of rest a night. Set and enforce a realistic bedtime that allows for plenty of rest.
Tip four: Cough into the elbow.Teach your kids not to spread germs by coughing and sneezing into their elbows. If they do it into their hands, they will spread germs to the things that they touch. Elbows are a safer, and often more convenient option, such as when your hands are full of school supplies.
Tip five: Immunize.In order to help your child avoid illness, and thus be healthier, make sure to keep them up to date with their immunizations. Regular doctor visits will help your child stay healthy, and catch any problems before they arise.
Tip six: Backpack with straps.One of the biggest problems with a child’s health and school is that heavy backpacks can cause back problems. Help alleviate this by purchasing backpacks with chest straps and padding for support. You want to avoid single shoulder strap bags. This can cause back problems, misalignment, etc.
Tip seven: Eye exam.School can be tough on a child’s eyes, lots of reading, be focused for a long-time, bright commercial lighting, etc. So, make sure your child’s eyes aren’t being strained because they need glasses or contacts. Get them an eye exam every school year so that if they do need glasses, they get them before school starts.
Tip eight: Helmets.Keep your kids safe as they go to and from school by making sure they wear a helmet on their head, and pads on knees and elbows. This will keep them safe on their bikes. If they walk, be sure to talk to them daily about watching for cars, paying attention to where they are stepping, waiting for crossing guard help, etc. If they ride a bus, talk to them about sitting forward and listening to the bus driver’s instructions.