Simply remembering the different times I have gotten the flu gives me the chills. The fever, the aches, the hours and hours spent in bed…it is awful. And for your kids? It is pretty dreadful, too. And while the everyday cold is obviously more tolerable, it can take a toll too. Feeling run-down and sniffly can bring a whole family down.
So, here are some easy tips for you and your family to help prevent (or mitigate) the cold and flu season:
- Get the flu shot. Everyone in the family should get one, and now most kids and adults can receive the easy nasal spray! Check with your doctor for the different options.
- Wash hands. Studies have known that good ol’ fashioned soap and water really works! We sing the alphabet while we wash our hands, and that is just long enough to get germs off. The anti-bacterial gels? Well, in a pinch they are great, but are not truly necessary. Some germs and bacteria are actually needed to keep a good balance going in your body…so just wash the hands regularly and you will be in good shape.
- Teach your children to sneeze into their elbows. Teachers know and instruct kids to do this while in the classroom; there is no reason why your children need to be sneezing directly into their hands.
- Keep your child home when they are sick. A clear, runny nose? Well, that is practically allchildren and if their disposition is good, most can go to school or daycare. A fever? A child who is really acting out of sorts? Green mucus? Keep that child home!
- Get enough sleep, exercise, and healthy, whole foods. This goes for everyone in the family! But especially for parents, when you sleep, exercise, and eating properly, your body has a better chance at fighting illness. Your immune system depends on you taking care of yourself (your kids need you, too!)
- And always, ALWAYS, trust your parental instincts. While most families will suffer through the flu and recover just fine, 200,000 people will be hospitalized with complications from the flu (according to the CDC), and the elderly, newborns, and pregnant women are the most susceptible. If your child looks sick, is not acting like themselves, and your instinct is telling you something is just wrong, do not hesitate to see a doctor.