8 Tips to Prevent the Flu in Children
It’s flu season, and that usually means days of missed school or even a visit to the hospital. To avoid that, we’ve compiled a list of 8 ways to prevent the flu.
- Vaccinate your kids, but don’t rely on vaccines and medicine alone
Though flu vaccines are worth getting, they are not 100% effective. You can offer even more protection to your children by promoting good lifestyle practices, good hygiene and boosting their immune system.
- Hand Washing
Teaching children to properly wash their hands regularly is one of the first defenses against cold and flu. Teach them how to do this at home so they are prepared for school.
- Keep sick children home
Should a child become sick, it is better they stay home at least 24 hours after fever has receded. This helps them heal faster and prevents others from getting sick.
- Teach germ safety
All people, but especially children, touch their eyes, nose, and mouth throughout the day. This is how sickness spreads fastest. Teach your child to wash their hands before touching their face if they share toys or supplies.
- Give your child their own school supplies
Building off of the previous point, if your child has their own supplies, they won’t have to borrow anyone else’s and risk contamination, which is a leading cause of the flu.
- Avoid sharing food
Sharing food drastically raises the chance of sickness. This is even true of sharing with people who look healthy.
- Homemade Lunches
Lunch trays and water fountains are germ and virus hotspots. If you prepare your child a homemade lunch with drink, they can avoid such danger zones.
- Boost their immunity
One of the best ways to protect your children from the flu is their immunity with food that is high in antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E. These are found in foods like carrots, bell peppers, and boiled broccoli. You can also introduce vitamin supplements into their diets. Additionally, getting ample sleep and exposure to sunlight or vitamin D helps keep the immune system healthy.
If you follow these tips, your child will be ready for a healthy school year.