Supporting Your Child’s Health During The Cold Season

Cold and flu season it’s a parent’s worst nightmare, so Little Harvard would like to share with Parents our research about how to support a child’s health during winter. We can help our children stay healthy and strong during the cold season by incorporating proactive and positive immune boosting habits into their lives now. 

Get a good night’s sleep

The body’s immune system quits working well when the body is sleep deprived. Now is not the time to slack off enforcing bedtime. Most school-aged children need at least 10-11 hours each night, and babies and toddlers need even more.

Wash hands often

It’s such a simple thing, but hand washing really does matter. Researchers found that if everyone regularly washed their hands, we could prevent spreading viruses and some sickness. Always use soap and teach your kids to sing or to do something fun while washing their hands, so it becomes an enjoyable part of their daily routine.

Eat well

A well-balanced diet is the best path to overall health. Some foods do slightly increase immunity. Immune boosting food and drink keeps the body well-nourished so when viruses do strike, the immune system has fuel to work efficiently. Immune-boosting foods like garlic, ginger, fresh green juices, and foods packed with vitamin C, such as orange slices or pomegranate seeds, which are a great addition to our weekly meal planning.

Drink Plenty of Water

It’s easy to forget about keeping ourselves hydrated during the winter. The cold weather makes us forget about drinking water regularly. It is important to keep children well hydrated during the winter to help their bodies work at their best!

Protect your child’s schedule

Stress is one of the biggest immune system busters around, for children and adults. When we are under stress, our immune function is greatly impaired.  Our body can’t tell the difference between different types of stress, so it reacts to over-scheduling activities, creating a stress response. When the body is in a stress response, immune function declines. During the school and creche year, stay protective of your child’s schedule as much as possible: they need their rest and some peace and quiet time.