The holidays are a wonderful time of the year, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, staying safe is still at the top of many parents’ minds. As children return to school from their winter break, we at MCR Health want to share some guidelines to help keep our kids safe.
In this article we’ll discuss some of the best ways your kids can stay healthy and safe while returning to school this semester.
Fortunately, you can lower the risk of viral infections, such as COVID-19, by encouraging your kids to make some simple habits a part of their daily lives. Some of the most effective habits for kids to form while they’re young are as follows:
- Covering coughs and sneezes with elbow
- Using a tissue only once
- Keeping hands away from eyes and mouths
- Not sharing water bottles, food, pencils, pens
- Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Being active
For the purpose of forming a habit, repetition is a critical factor. Setting an example is a great way to help your child develop good habits because when children see their parents practice healthy habits, they are more likely to emulate them.
These tips are effective in helping children stay safe and healthy against COVID-19 by reducing the spread. Showing children healthy habits at home consistently such as washing hands before a meal can help kids learn these good habits and apply them anywhere especially in school.
Social Distancing
Social distancing is an effective way to reduce the chances of illnesses that are spread through respiratory droplets, like COVID-19.
It is important for children to understand why social distancing is important. Even though hugs and playing tag are great, sitting down with them to explain why things are temporarily different can make these new changes at school less scary.
So what exactly is social distancing? Well, social distancing is the practice of creating additional space between people in an effort to reduce the spread of an illness. This form of prevention has been around long before COVID-19. In fact, according to a 2007 study performed by Richard J. Hatchett, Carter E. Mecher, and Marc Lipsitch, cities that used social distancing measures against the Spanish Influenza in 1918 in the early stages of the outbreak had significantly less fatalities.
This proven method has made a difference in previous pandemics, and that is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends social distancing as one of their main guidelines to combat COVID-19. By socially distancing themselves, kids can do their part to reduce the spread of illnesses, like COVID-19.
Another way to lower the probability of getting sick is by boosting the immune system.
Boosting The Immune System
A child’s immune system is the first line of defense against getting sick. Thankfully, as children go back to school, there are some extremely simple ways to boost the immune system to support defending the body. It’s our job as parents to encourage our little ones to boost their immune systems. Some of the most helpful actions we can take are as follows.
- Feeding our kids a healthy diet
- Encouraging our kids to drink water (instead of energy drinks)
- Encouraging our kids to keep good hand-washing habits
- Making sure we structure good sleeping schedules
- Keeping them physically active
- Making sure they get the recommended vaccines
Boosting the immune system is an easy way to help our children stay safe, and when it comes to COVID-19 a strong immune system can help our kids stay less prone to diseases.
What We Can Do
Although all these efforts are vital, one of the most important things we can do as parents is ensure that our kids regularly see their pediatricians. By regularly scheduling their annual checkups, we can ensure our kids stay safe and healthy regardless of the time of year or the COVID variant.
If you have any questions or concerns, we are here to help because we want to see your family stay safe and healthy. So please contact us today to schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician.
