Tips to Keep Your Child Healthy

Keeping your child healthy is at the top of every parent’s to-do list. At Lil’ Rascals Academy, we will be the first to tell you that we love children and they are an absolute joy, but they do tend to be a bit messy at times. Children need the proper guidance to teach them healthy routines so that they can grow up strong.

 

Teach Your Child Proper Hand Washing Techniques

One of the most common ways that bacteria and viruses are spread is by improper hand washing or lack thereof. Teach your child the proper way to wash their hands and encourage them to do it frequently. Children tend to get into sticky, sometimes even slimy situations, so teach them to clean up in between activities, after they use the bathroom, before eating, after sneezing, coughing, or blowing their nose, and any time they come into contact with something that might not be clean.

Feed Your Child Healthy Meals And Snacks

Healthy fruits, vegetables, proteins, and other ingredients can go a long way to boosting your child’s immune system. Try to make meals that taste good, are fun to eat, and are good for growing children. Including your little one in the cooking process can be a great way to get them to try new and healthy meals. Snacks are also important because—when combined with healthy meals—they help kids get the nutrients they need. Plus, having small snacks spaced between meals reinforces the idea that kids should eat small meals and eat when they are hungry. This helps them build healthy eating habits.

Give Your Child Daily Vitamins

Daily vitamins for children provide nutrients that they might not be getting from their diet. Vitamins can help keep your child’s immune system working at full speed. Ensure that the vitamins you choose are specifically made for children and it is always a good idea to check with your child’s doctor before starting a daily vitamin.

Keep To A Regular Sleep Schedule

Sleeping allows the body to rest, regenerate, and encourages overall health. Whether your child is in school, preschool, daycare, or stays home, it’s important to keep to a consistent sleep schedule. Sleep can help their immune system function and make children less susceptible to bacteria and viruses.

Encourage Exercise And Imaginative Play

Exercise for children does not look like it does for adults. Encouraging children to exercise could mean playing sports, running around in the yard, or even trying their hand in karate. Anything that gets kids up from in front of the television for a few hours a day can help keep them active and healthy.

Encouraging imaginative play is also important to children’s health because health is not just about physical activity, but also includes development. Imaginative play is great for creativity, development of motor skills, and even critical thinking.

Visit the pediatrician

The pediatrician isn’t there just for when your child gets sick. Doctors help make sure that you’re staying healthy, and they provide guidance for improving health. Schedule your child’s appointment with a pediatrician in Delaware County today!

Lead by example

Do you exercise, sleep well, eat healthy, and visit the doctor regularly? Be a good role model for your children and help them develop healthy habits!