Guest Author - Paula Petrie

Our children heading to school, signals the beginning of grueling schedules and abrupt, sometimes daily, temperature changes that kids are not always dressed for. Include the facts, that children are now sitting in stuffy classrooms for long stretches every day, and they often skip lunch or fill up on less nutritious snacks when they get home, and our children have become the perfect candidates for colds and flu.

While getting back into routine, help ensure kids are getting adequate rest by being strict about bed time and wind down times. Try, very limited TV and computer use, for the first month (at least.) This helps kids develop a homework and evening routine. Have them pick favorite shows in advance so that they can plan other activities around the time slot. It is better in most every way, if a child is going to “vege,” that they do so with a book, or pen.

Make sure your children understand the importance of keeping hydrated. Being dehydrated will reduce the effectiveness of their bodies’ and brains’ ability to function. Have kids take a water bottle to school. Tell them to refill it often at the fountain.

Remind kids to wash their hands at school, and to keep their hands away from their mouths and noses throughout the day. Carrying a packet of hand wipes is sometimes easier than getting to the washroom between classes. Dragging a “cool” sweater with them in the morning, helps ensure that they are prepared for what ever the day brings.

Kids need plenty of exercise to circulate the germ-fighting fluids of the immune and lymphatic systems. This will help children build up a resistance to cold germs, and help them get over it more quickly if they do catch one. A sports activity is great for exercise and health. Over-scheduling is stress for everyone. Maybe, supplement weekly exercise for kids by taking a family bike ride, etc. This will keep mom healthy, too.

It is important to help kids reduce mental stress. Discuss their peer relationships, and anxiety about school work to insure that they are not living under constant worry or fear. Check out the school environment. Talk to the teachers, to get clues to your child‘s personality at school, and who they hang with. Try continuously to direct your children to surroundings or an atmosphere where they can thrive, and feel healthy.

Put in the effort to prepare a healthy breakfast and dinner, so your children’s bodies have lots of vitamins and minerals to help maintain health. A good action plan is to have a supply of healthy cold, or easily prepared hot cereals on hand for rushed mornings.

Do some evening meal planning in advance. Canned or frozen fish is always quick and healthy. Burritos and wraps are easy, tasty, and can hide lots of healthy ingredients as well. Cooking a roast or stew at your leisure, the evening before, creates a helpful break. Quick choices on hand will keep you from worrying about your kids vitamin intake. And, curb the desire to grab fast food.