5 Easy Ways To Help Your Child Stay Healthy This Summer

Health & Medical Blog

If your family is like most, you already have a long list of projects, outings and overnight trips planned for this summer, beginning as soon as school gets out. The last thing you need is for one of your children to get sick. Not only is it tough as a parent to see your little ones not feeling well, but summer illnesses can quickly derail vacation, camp and summer school plans. 

While there's no way to guarantee that your kids will stay healthy all summer, there are a few easy things you can do to help keep them from getting sick.

1. Make hand washing a priority. Washing your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds can go a long way towards keeping the whole family healthy. Simply hand washing with regular soap can kill the majority of viruses and bacteria that easily gets transferred to your hands from the things you touch. Make a game of it to keep your kids on task.
2. Teach them want to share and what not to share. While sharing is good when it comes to toys, sharing food, hair accessories, toothbrushes and things like whistles and harmonicas can quickly spread germs and bacteria. Make sure that you kids understand what's appropriate to share and what they should keep to themselves.
3. Get enough exercise. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that everyone over the age of two years get at least 60 minutes of exercise every day. That can be walking, playing ball, swimming or team sports. Getting regular exercise helps to boost the immune system and prevent your child from getting sick even if he or she is exposed to a virus.
4. Stay hydrated. Summer heat can quickly rob the body of its essential fluids. This is especially true of the very young. Make sure your kids drink at least two to four glasses of water a day to keep their bodies running efficiently.
5. Protect against mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance. They can spread diseases like West Nile virus and, more recently, the Zika virus. The CDC recommends using an insect repellant with an active ingredient like DEET and eucalyptus oil and avoiding places where mosquitoes are prevalent, such as near standing water.

While there's no way to guarantee that your kids won't catch a virus or otherwise get sick this summer, encouraging them to wash their hands regularly, drink lots of water, get regular exercise and make sure to protect against flying insects. For more tips, visit a pediatrician like HealthSource Of Ohio.

18 April 2016