Between the grimy hands of fellow students, the strange germs imported from every corner of the globe, and the impending change in the weather, it seems an unavoidable certainty that sooner or later your children will come home from school sick. With a little vigilance, however, there's a lot you can do to prevent those inevitable runny noses. Below, you can find some tips to keep those germs on the defensive and your body healthy.
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| 1. Handwashing |
A simple but very effective way to fight germs is handwashing, especially after using the toilet, before eating, after the playground or handling pets. It's important to reduce the amount of harmful germs on our hands. The child should get used to handwashing being part of the daily routine. Children should be supervised as often as possible to ensure that they are washing their hands correctly. Parents can encourage their children while being good role models. Why don't you sing the 'germs song' together while washing your hands before dinner?
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| 2. Hand Sanitisers |
You can supply your child with hand sanitisers. Brands with low alcohol content and a bit of aloe vera are preferrable.
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| 3. Vaccinations |
A good doctor should always inform you which vaccinations are suitable for your child. When going abroad, you should always check in time which vaccinations are needed for the country you're planning to visit. Make sure your child's vaccinations are up to date. Adults need to keep their vaccination records up to date too. Most vaccinations are refreshed after 10 years.
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| 4. Nutrition |
A healthy and well balanced diet will give your child better cell function, which will allow the immune system to work better and will support a good digestion. make sure you wash fruits or vegetables before consumption. Parasites are common in Dubai. Camel milk is very healthy and supports the immune system. Sweets as a treat and drinking water after sweet consumption will help to protect your child's teeth. A dental check up every 6 months is also advisable. And, of course, teeth brushing in the morning and at night with an age appropriate brush and toothpaste is a must!!
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| 5. Water |
We've heard it a thousand times before... drinking at least 6 to 8 glasses of water every day will cure much of what ails you. Drinking water keeps the whole body functioning properly; 2/3 of our body consists of water (this includes kidneys, digestion, blood circulation). The liver can't work properly without enough fluids. Water, as well as tea, juice with no sugar added and diluted with water keep your body hydrated.
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| 6. Rest Up |
The younger the children are, the more sleep they need. Toddlers need 10 - 12 hours sleep while adults need 6 - 8 on average. every child is different and some may need less but make sure your child gets plenty of quality sleep. Sleep deficit is proved to harm the physical health.
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| 7. Stay at Home |
Your child is coughing, has a bad runny nose, isn't 100% and not him/herself? if you recognise your child is becoming sick then you should definitely leave them at home. Otherwise, your child will pass on their germs and infect other children or might pick up other germs as the body is still weakened and still struggling to fight the cough or cold. It also makes sense to leave your child at home for a few days more after being sick to recover properly. When brought back to school too early, the body hasn't recovered yet and the infection might return or they will pick up the next germ. do you like the idea of someone coughing/sneezing at you or your child with a green/yellow discharge?
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| 8. Exercise |
Everyone can benefit from regular exercise. Children who are active will;
- have stronger muscles and bones
- feel happier and well balanced due to body released hormones
- be less likely to become overweight
- decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes or other diseases
- possibly have lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels
- have a better outlook on life
In addition to the health benefits of regular exercise, children who are physically fit sleep better and are better able to handle the physical and emotional challenges that a typical day presents.
NOTE:
Children need to be at least 24 HOURS FREE of symptoms and without medication before returning to school, even longer is advisable. Often they seem fine in the morning and start begging you to take them to school but remember your child has been resting all night. Make sure for a day that the fever or symptoms don't return so they can attend school fresh and recovered and can cope with the expectations at school.
Though a certain amount of childhood sickness is a fact of life and necessary for building up the immune system, taking a few pre-emptive measures to fight it can go a long way to avoiding the inconvenience and heartbreak of seeing your little ones so miserable. As noted scholar Desiderius Erasmus once said, " Prevention is better than cure".
