Back to school can be exciting and a little nerve-wracking for kids. Keeping them healthy throughout their education is important.
Throughout nursery and school, children are prone to picking up all kinds of germs and infections. Which is why, it is important to take the correct measures to prevent them from becoming seriously ill.
Consider these steps before sending your child to Govan nursery or school:
Vaccinations
Thanks to advances in medical science, vaccines help protect children from diseases. In fact, some diseases like polio have been eliminated or are close to extinction, largely because of safe and effective vaccines.
Vaccine ingredients contain either live, attenuated viruses or bacteria; inactivated, killed organisms and toxins (for bacterial diseases in which the toxins generated by the bacteria, rather than the bacteria themselves, cause illness); or merely segments of the pathogen (for diseases in which the pathogen’s proteins are what causes illness). Almost all vaccine side effects are minor.
Hygiene
Hygiene, the practice of cleanliness to prevent disease, is important for kids to learn at a young age. This includes bathing regularly, washing their hands after using the bathroom or before eating, covering their mouth when coughing or sneezing, and wearing clean clothes.
Teaching children responsible hygiene habits will help them to be healthy throughout their lives. For example, establishing an oral hygiene routine early will set them up for good dental health later in life.
Nutrition
Children need a healthy diet to be able to learn and function at their best. They should eat a variety of nutritious foods (such as lean meats, whole grains and fruits and vegetables) and limit unhealthy foods such as sugary drinks, junk food and salty snacks.
Drinking water is also important. Dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue and difficulty concentrating, which could negatively impact their schoolwork.
Physical Activity
Kids need 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day to build healthy bones, muscles and joints. They can get this by playing, taking walks or riding bikes to and from school, and participating in organized sports.
Some schools have shifted time away from PE and recess in favour of more academic achievement testing, but correlational studies suggest that more movement improves students’ cognitive performance and attention in the classroom.
Mental Health
Kids can deal with stress and anxiety, but too much of it can lead to a mental health issue. Symptoms include changes in thinking, emotions or behaviour and can impact school performance.
The education sector is well positioned to deliver mental health services and support for students. This includes universal promotion (tier 1) of well-being and positive social and emotional development, and screening for and the provision of early intervention mental health services and supports.