Feb 18, 2025
359
Health
Seven tips for keeping kids healthy during cold and flu season
Does anyone else feel as if every week someone in the household is bringing home a new illness? In the first few years of life, your little one may bring home as many as 12 illnesses per year. Luckily, as your child grows older, the frequency of viral illnesses will wane.
Here are a few tips to help reduce the number of incidents where your child has to stay home from school or miss yet another fun outing.
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Wash your hands often. Teach your child the importance of washing your hands and how it can significantly reduce the number of germs that your child picks up and lessen the spread of germs. Your child should wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds.
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Avoid spreading germs by not sharing cups or utensils with family and/or friends.
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Teach and remind your child to sneeze or cough into their elbows to avoid respiratory droplets from spreading into the air toward other individuals.
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Use disposable tissues instead of handkerchiefs, throw tissues away after use and wash hands promptly.
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At home, you can reduce the spread within the family by sanitizing the computer mouse, cellphones, door handles, light switches, video game controllers and any other areas that are frequently touched.
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Encourage and support your child with eating a well-balanced diet, taking a multivitamin daily, reducing stress, learning healthy coping mechanisms, exercising, and getting quality rest to support their immune system in fighting off viral illnesses.
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Ensure that your child is up to date on checkups and vaccinations to protect them from many serious diseases.
Reach out to your pediatrician with any questions or concerns regarding your child's health and follow the school recommendations regarding when it is appropriate to stay home from school.
Need a pediatrician? TidalHealth Pediatrics, located at 1639 Woodbrooke Drive in Salisbury, is accepting new patients. Schedule an appointment.
