News Taffy

This year, help your child have a healthier school year by teaching the following habits. Because schools are such a great place to share germs, your child can bring home all kinds of illnesses and infect the whole family. Missing school means loosing valuable learning time and of course, parents don’t need to miss work. Parents should be responsible for teaching good health habits which will carry over into adult life.

Children grow and develop rapidly and sleep is necessary for their good health and brain development even into their late teens. Studies have shown that a good night’s sleep is more helpful to school performance than staying up late to cram. Make sure your children get to bed at an appropriate hour. Children from 6 to 12 need between 10 to 12 hours of sleep while teens 13 to 18 need 8 or 9 hours. Avoid caffeine late in the day, exercise or other stimulating activities in the evening. Americans are among the most sleep deprived people in the world; we need to reverse that trend so make sure YOU are setting a good example by going to bed!

Teach your child the importance of washing their hands frequently and keeping their hands and other objects out of their mouth and away from their face. This simple practice keeps germs out of your body and can keep you from getting sick. Don’t make your child paranoid but explain that germs are everywhere; on desks, pencils, drink bottles, doorknobs, etc. Everyone should also cover their mouth when sneezing or coughing. Sneezing or coughing into your upper arm is better; that way your hands aren’t covered in germs.

Take advantage of the free flu shots schools arrange these days. Many parents worry about the safety of flu shots for children. Research has not shown flu shots to cause autism or any other problems. It is more important to consider known risks; children are just as likely to be hospitalized due to the flu as the elderly. Children are also likely to develop secondary infections with the flu like sinus infections and pneumonia, leading to a much longer illness.

Doing well in school is very important to your child’s future but help them to become well rounded individuals by allowing them to explore other activities like art, music and sports. Too much pressure on school work can lead to stress and eventually undermine performance. Get help if your child struggles in a certain subject. Ignoring problems or hoping the school will fix them won’t work and can lead to low self esteem.

Last, make sure your child gets plenty of exercise each day! Children are bundles of energy and shouldn’t be expected to sit at a desk and work all day. More importantly, exercise keeps their bodies strong and healthy while keeping their weight at a normal level. Since they are in school for hours each day, limit TV and computer time and send them outside. Take them to the park, go for a bike ride or enroll in their favorite sport. Get the whole family moving and exercise together.

Keep these tips in mind and let’s have the best school year ever!