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Summer is quickly coming to an end and soon it will be time to send your children back to school or off to college. By the middle of August a flurry of preparation for students and parents is in full swing. New backpacks, new school supplies, new clothes, new shoes and renewing of friendships (who isn’t in touch with their friends to see what everyone is wearing on that “all important” first day of classes?) all go along with the excitement that back-to-school brings. However, returning to classes filled with students in close quarters also means more germs and for many children, more illness.
This doesn’t have to be a down-side if you are prepared in advance. So grab a pencil and paper because I have some effective tips for the school year to help you promote good health and well-being in your children.
1) Show Your Hands! Since there is a bit of time before the beginning of school, it is a good idea to introduce or reinforce to your children the importance of hand washing. Get your children into the habit of washing their hands before eating and after bathroom use. Good old soap and warm water is just as effective as hand sanitizers that sometimes contain toxic chemicals. Be aware that antibacterial soaps can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.
2) Coughing, Sneezing, Runny Nose – oh my! Teach your children the importance of coughing and sneezing into their sleeve or a tissue, if one is available. Put a small package of tissue in your children’s backpacks and remind them that used tissues should be thrown away immediately after use.
3) When it’s OK Not to Share. Teach your children that there are certain things that should not be shared. These include utensils, cups, water bottles, pens/pencils, cell phones, grooming articles, cosmetics, etc. This is especially important during cold and flu season. Provide your children access to their own personal school supplies, tissues, water bottles, etc.
4) Keep the Mouth Sparkling Clean. Educate your children not only in the importance of brushing their teeth and gums at least two times daily but also about the health benefits of a clean mouth. Choose a non-fluorinated and non-toxic tooth paste or make your own homemade tooth powder. I also recommend Breath Fresh™ which allows prompt and convenient attention to oral health no matter where you are or what the circumstances.
5) ZZZ’s are Important. With all the excitement of a new school year, getting back into the swing of homework and project deadlines as well as extra-curricular activities, children can quickly become sleep deprived. Without a sleep regimen, older children and teens can show signs of sleep deprivation which includes fatigue, headaches, slow metabolic rates, moodiness and decreased ability to focus and pay attention. It is wise to make sure children of all ages start getting back into a healthy sleep schedule before school starts. Keep computers, TV’s and cell phones out of the bedroom. Set an age-appropriate bedtime for your children and stick to it – even on the weekends. Most healthcare professionals agree that children 5 to 12 years old need approximately 10 hours of sleep per night while older, high school aged children need about 9 hours. The body does a tremendous amount of healing and repair work between the hours of 10:00 PM and 3:00 AM. Keep in mind that when the body is sleep deprived the immune system becomes sluggish.
6) What’s for Breakfast & Lunch? Teaching your children how to make healthy food choices by example is, in my opinion, one of the most important life-long lessons a parent can pass on to their children. Food is what fuels and nourishes the entire body, including the brain. It is proven over and over again that children who eat healthy, nutritious meals and avoid pre-packaged foods require less doctor visits, resist more illness, have less difficulty with concentration, attention and memory and are actually happier than those who feast on a constant diet of HFCS, fast foods and pre-packaged foods laden with chemicals. Make it a requirement that your children eat breakfast every morning – preferably food that is not pre-packaged. Breakfast helps to get the metabolism going and also helps the body to eliminate efficiently. Breakfast smoothies packed full of nutritious fruit, healthy greens and essential fatty acid are quick, easy, very healthy and best of all taste great! If possible skip the cafeteria and snack bar menus by providing a homemade lunch for your children. A piece of fruit along with a wholesome sandwich that includes a protein source and lots of veggies on gluten-free bread will provide a high amount of nutrients, satisfy hunger and provide energy. Add a small bag of raw veggies and healthy dip for added fiber and nutrition. Provide your children with a personal water bottle that includes its own filter so that your children have access to clean and pure water all day long. Teach them the importance of water and keeping hydrated. Be sure to have healthy after-school snacks available for your children. Suggestions include ready-to-eat cold fruit slices, sliced veggies, homemade salsa and homemade sweet potato chips, homemade trail mix in pre-portioned bags, fruit milkshakes using almond milk, etc. Ask your children to come up with ideas for healthy snacks and healthy lunches. One last mention – make sure that all fruits, veggies, etc. are effectively washed and prepared. Make sure to keep countertops and cutting boards properly disinfected (use non-toxic soaps or cleaning products).
7) Exercise and Sunshine Count. Believe it or not but recess and structured PE classes are a thing of the past in many schools. Children need a time to run off energy, soak up sunshine and de-stress. Require your children to go outdoors for some play time after school. Sunshine actually encourages Vitamin D3 production in the body which in turn can help with stress. Encourage teens to take a walk/jog every afternoon or to get involved with an outdoor sports activity. Make sure to provide adequate hydration for all outside activities. If you live in an area where sunshine is minimal consider supplementing your child’s diet with a liquid Vitamin D3. I do recommend having Vitamin D3 levels checked first. Consider a weekday family rule of no TV/video games/computer time if the weather permits outdoor activities.
8) Open Elimination Routes. Children have four elimination routes for the removal of toxins – breathing, sweating, urination and defecation. Girls also acquire an extra elimination route with the beginning of menses. While each elimination route is important, bowel health is often a subject that makes everyone uncomfortable and thus is often ignored. Because 70% of the immune system is located in the small and large intestine, it is important that parents keep tabs on their children’s bowel health. For more information about bowel health, please read my article, Children Get Constipated, Too. Healthy eating, adequate exercise, proper hydration and rest go a long way in helping the elimination routes to work effectively. If your child continues to experience issues such as constipation, I recommend Pure Vegan Mag O7 which will help with elimination in a safe and effective manner. Also a review of diet, exercise, stress and hydration is warranted.
9) Natural Supplements. I believe that all children should be on a daily children’s organic multi-vitamin/mineral supplement as well as a non-acidic, neutral pH Vitamin C powder and effective probiotics. While supplements are no replacement for a healthy diet, they can fill in the gaps and also provide a sturdy nutritional foundation. Studies have proven that the daily use of probiotics reduce the incidence of illness as well as help prevent the onset of cold and flu symptoms throughout the year. According to the results of one study, “When compared to a placebo group, the groups that received the single and combination probiotic supplements reduced their fever incidence by 53% and 72.7% respectively. Their coughing was reduced by 41.4% and 62.1% and their runny noses were lessened by 28.2% and 58.5%. The duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms were also significantly reduced in the children receiving the probiotics. Because of their enhanced natural defenses, these children had less need for prescription antibiotics and missed fewer days of childcare.” See the study reference here. We are living in tough financial times and less time in the doctor’s office can be a huge savings for most families. One of the most effective probiotics on the market today and the one that our family uses is Latero-Flora which is Bacillus Laterosporus BOD. The veggie capsules are small and can be opened and put on foods or in smoothies. The action of Bacillus Laterosporus BOC is three-fold. First these organisms attack and help to eliminate pathogenic organisms such as Salmonella, E.Coli and Streptococci. They also create a hostile environment against viruses. Second, they stimulate thte immune system to produce more antibodies against bacteria and viruses. Lastly, Bacillus Laterosporus BOD improves digestion by completely breaking down food in the intestines and assists in the elimination of toxins. Long term exposure to incomplete digestion and toxins has been implicated as the cause of many chronic diseases.
10. When Sick – Stay Home. No matter how much we watch over our children’s health, at some point illness will occur. Don’t send your child to school if he/she is sick. It’s not fair to your child and it’s not fair to expose other children. If your child is running a fever, complaining of a sore throat, stomach ache and/or headache, has a runny nose and/or is exhibiting a lack of energy, it is wise to take a break, stay home and rest. Should more symptoms appear or continually get worse, a consult with a trusted healthcare professional is in order. When the body is not well, it needs rest, hydration, healthy food (veggies, fruits and hydration) and some down time. Hearty and healthy soup is one of the best foods for cold and flu symptoms. I suggest a soup that we have used in our family for years — Dr. Lanphier’s Healthy Chicken/Vegetable Soup This soup can be adjusted for those who are vegetarians. A warm serving of this soup as well as a plate of fresh, raw veggies with a homemade dip will provide satisfying nourishment and will help to rev-up the immune system.
One last reminder. Children who learn to implement healthy habits at a young age exhibit less emotional turmoil and greater focus and problem solving skills during their school years. There is absolutely nothing to lose in getting your children involved in their own health and wellness. Call a family meeting and discuss ways in which the above suggestions can be implemented in your own family. Don’t go over-board but instead ease into some of these suggestions until they become habit. Then tackle a few more. It won’t be long until everyone realizes that practicing healthy prevention really does help everyone to feel and look their best and even keeps emotions balanced! From myself and OAW – much success and good health to all students during the coming school year!
I would love to read your ideas about keeping children healthy during the school year. Please share them below.
