Keep Your Kids Healthy at Daycare During the Winter Months
We got our first taste of snow recently, which means that the long winter is upon us. It also means that we’re right in the thick of cold and flu season. Sprout Early Care & Preschool wants your little ones to be happy and healthy throughout the season, without battling the coughs and sniffles. In today’s post, we will look at several ways in which you can keep your kids healthy during the cold winter months.
Watch What They Eat
Your child’s nutrition is crucial to their overall health and immune system. By making sure they are eating a healthy, balanced diet, you can minimize the illnesses your child gets during the winter. First thing is to limit the amount of sugar your child eats. This can be difficult with all the cookies and other goodies associated with the holidays, but the more sugar your child eats, the more vulnerable they will be to colds and flus, due to a weakened immune system. In lieu of these sugary snacks, fruits like oranges, strawberries, raspberries, and pomegranates are great tasty options that contain Vitamin C, which is a great boost to the body’s immune system. You should also give them yogurt, which contains probiotics that will help rid the body of germs that cause illness and disease. It’s also important that your children stay hydrated with plenty of water, as water helps carry nutrients to the body’s organs and helps flush toxins out of the body.
Encourage Good Hygiene
The sooner you can get your child into the habit of routinely washing their hands, the better their overall health will be. Not only should they wash their hands before and after every meal, but they should wash after touching any sort of dirt or garbage, and especially after petting dogs, cats, or other pets. Finally, children should wash their hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose to ensure they don’t spread those germs. You should also make sure your child’s toothbrush is replaced after an illness, as toothbrushes are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria.
Help Them Relax
All the excitement of the holidays and the snow can be very stressful on the little ones, and while the physical activity is great, too much activity and stress can weaken children’s immune systems. Make sure they have time to enjoy slower activities like reading, watching movies, or coloring to give them physical rest. Speaking of physical rest, kids who don’t get enough sleep also suffer from a weakened immune system. Your school age children should be getting about 10 hours of sleep a night, with younger kids needing even more, including a nap or two during the day.
By following these simple steps, your children will build a stronger immune system and enjoy a healthier winter. Sprout Early Care & Preschool is dedicated to helping your child grow and thrive. Contact us for more information about our programs and curriculum.
