Keeping the Family Healthy This Time Around

The fall season has arrived in the US, and the weather is already changing in other parts. Unfortunately, as the cold air starts to dance in the breeze, germs are also trailing behind. So keeping the whole family healthy is going to be a huge priority for parents.

Parenthood comes with responsibilities, especially the health of the entire family. Plus trying to navigate between home, work, and school – becomes one whole pit of chaos.

It can get serious around pretty quickly.

Parents gear up to face yet another season with viruses coming around. Of course, we all know Colds, Flu, and RSV(Respiratory Syncytial Virus) are the most popular ones. However, the Covid-19 is continually rampaging across the US and worldwide.

Parents prioritize the overall health of each family member, including physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects. With all the health protocols in place, health information and guidelines updated every single day – these can feel overwhelming to you.

Yet, it doesn’t have to be.

Parents can take steps to educate, understand health information and take action towards the best interests of the family.

And so, we still need to remember these simple yet effective ways to keep our family unit safe at this time of the season.

Keeping the Family Healthy with These Simple Habits and Health Tips

Washing Hands

The number one method you can do to prevent spreading the germs in the house or out is regularly washing hands.

Little ones are notorious for picking things around the house and touching their faces, eyes, noses, and mouth. I think most babies and younger kids represent these groups; my kids aren’t exempted.

Encourage your kids as early as possible to begin and practice this healthy habit of cleaning hands.

Make it a fun activity, especially for little ones. For example, you are teaching them how to wash their hands while singing a favorite tune.

“This is the Way song….” You can repeat it when the children aren’t done with washing their hands. This song segment takes about twenty seconds when sang twice, for which time we need to be washing our hands thoroughly.

“This is the way I wash my hands
Wash my hands, wash my hands
Yes, This is the way I wash my hands
To keep the germs away, to keep the germs away.”

Quick Steps in Proper Hand Washing:

• Wet hands with running water
• Use soap to lather the hands
• Scrub hands facing each other, between the fingers by interlacing them, rub the back of both hands, and up to the wrist area. (making sure all areas are cleaned).
• Rinse entire hands/wrist with running water
• Dry off hands with a clean towel

The next best thing to washing hands is using a Hand Sanitizer. Unfortunately, there was a limited supply of these hand sanitizers for some time, and people were making their own at home.

Consider the concentration of the ingredients you are using to create a homemade hand sanitizer. Then, follow a reliable resource in getting the correct recipe for effective hand sanitizers.

Good thing, now, there is an abundance of hand sanitizer you can buy in stores or order online.

Covering when Coughing and Sneezing

Continue to remind children to cover their mouth and nose and turn away when they feel a sneeze or cough coming on.

Showing them how to cover with their arm sleeves or grab a tissue nearby to cover their coughs and sneezes is an excellent habit to practice.

Help contain the germs to an area and not spread them when you or your child cough or sneeze.

Saying bye to the dirty tissue and emptying the trash

To prevent spreading the germs is to keep contaminated items away. A quick reminder to everyone in the house is to throw away the used tissue for sneezing or coughing immediately.

Additionally, don’t wait when the trash is full and overflowing. When it’s ¾ full, it’s time to dump it into the collector garbage bin.

Choosing Healthy Food and Drinks

When it comes to the health of the family, food choices need to be reevaluated. Choosing an immune-boosting food category is a great way to add to the existing meal plans.

Prompt the children to eat immune-boosting food and present them with several choices. It can become tricky when children refuse the type of food.

Introduce them early to a variety of selections. Giving options and creatively presenting the food are effective ways to assist children in trying new and unfamiliar healthy food.

Parents can also easily add them to soup, main dishes, and other homemade juice blends for the whole family. Provided food allergies are taken into account.

Food That May Help Boost Immunity:

So, staying healthy means eating the right food to fight off viruses, bacteria, and others, plus helping raise your immunity for the protection that your body needs.

We may not prevent them from attacking us, but we can keep ourselves and our children’s immune systems ready to fight them off.

You can learn more about eating immune-boosting food here.

Vitamins and Other Nutrients

We can find vitamins and other nutrients in the food we eat every day.

When you and your family eat a variety of healthy food (balanced meals) daily, you are consuming the much-needed vitamins and nutrients to stay well and fight off germs when sick.

However, there can be challenges for children and their health circumstances that make a healthy intake of these vitamins not possible. That’s when parents can introduce vitamin supplements with the guidance of their healthcare provider.

Add in Vitamin D and Vitamin C to the supplement list to fight off illness this cold and flu season. Make sure to check the recommended dosages for you and your children.

It’s a good reminder to ask for recommendations from the health experts and do your thorough research when it comes to supplements before starting them on your children and make that decision.

Get Everyone Moving

Encourage everyone, including your children, to engage in activities to help boost the immune system.

You can go for a refreshing nature walk, jump roping, swimming, biking, or stretching with yoga. Then, pick the family activities that get your heart pumping and make it fun for everyone.

You can achieve an active lifestyle at home when everyone’s determined and motivated. Save the dates on your family calendar for a 50-minute exercise routine three times a week. Or aim for 30 minutes daily active movement five times a week.

When you exercise together, it also fosters family bonding, improves overall mood and happiness while keeping everyone healthy and strong.

Get More Sleep Hours

Keep the bedtime routines simple for children. Have a quiet time in the evening for everyone, including you, to wind down and get ready for bed.

Getting adequate sleep helps our immune system because our bodies repair and recharge the whole system when we sleep.

Make sleep a priority in the household.

Up-to-date Vaccines

Babies get vaccinated when a couple of months after birth. After that, young children get their scheduled vaccinations based on health recommendations.

Prevention is always better than treatment. As parents, we don’t want our children getting sick with diseases that we can easily prevent. Keep track of your child’s doctor appointments.

Although not all illnesses are preventable, getting vaccinated may lessen diseases’ effects on anyone’s body or complications thwarted when vaccines are received.

Parents keep the entire household healthy by doing what they think is suitable for their children and the community. Take charge in preventing the spread of germs not just in your family but also in the community.

Stay current with the health recommendations for yourself and your entire family to keep the germs at bay.

RELATED POST: The Doctor Visits Your Child Will Encounter Before Entering Kindergarten

Staying away when sick

If someone comes home with a bug, the first instinct for parents is to isolate the sick child and tend to their needs separately. This way, the germs are contained only to that particular child.

However, it may be impossible to isolate the sick child from the other member in some instances. Therefore, following healthy steps in preventing germs by washing hands, using proper health etiquette, and staying away as much as the family members can from the sick .

When you’re sick, it’s hard to isolate yourself from your children, especially if no one can tend to them at home.

Take care of your health needs and ask for help from other family members, relatives, or friends. It may also not be possible for someone to take the children away for the time being, especially if you have little ones.

It’s tough to get everyone on the schedule when someone is sick, be prepared to change some routines, and find other ways to entertain the children. The goal is to get you to recover as quickly and as rested as you need to be.

Listen to your own body. When you’re sick, it’s a challenging situation because children depend on you to care for their needs. So do what you can and ask for help.

Mask up and Keep Social Distance

When out and about, follow health protocols when going out to shop or be around community areas. Not everyone will follow these health guidelines, and we hear and see that in the news.

Wear your masks everywhere you go. Be cautious in all your community activities.

Do your part in helping your community to stop the spread of germs. When you know you are sick, stay home. When you know your children are sick, keep them from school.

Each family’s circumstances are different.

Unfortunately, you may not have a choice to care for yourself or your sick children while working outside the home. You aren’t allowed to show up at work when you’re ill. Or your children who appear sick or having symptoms may be sent home from the school clinic.

Have a contingency plan when this happens.

The bottom line, with this covid-19 pandemic, we need to do our best to prevent the spread of the virus while also keeping a roof under our heads.

Stocking up with the cleaning essentials and disinfecting items.

House cleaning and maintenance are part of keeping the whole family in good health.

When the environment around you is clean, you’re less likely to harbor germs that make everyone sick.

Keep a stock of the needed disinfecting items and cleaning supplies to keep the entire household clean and sanitized. Even before Covid-19, parents are already disinfecting the frequently touched surfaces and objects at home as they go about their day.

Staying Healthy while Keeping the Whole Family Safe

Having a choice to do what’s right and what’s important to keep everyone safe at home is the responsibility of every parent.

Keep in mind that you are responsible for your family unit as well as being a part of the community.

When the whole family practices healthy habits and follows health tips- it helps keep the germs at arm’s length. Without anyone getting sick, the family routine stays intact.

Now, taking an active stance on health will benefit the whole family. In addition, staying well by eating the right food choices boost immunity for everyone at home.

By masking up, staying away from other people, and getting vaccinated as suggested, we may do our part to help and not add to what is currently happening around us.

It’s your right as a parent to protect your children and yourself. And, as members of society, we also have a community responsibility to protect others.

As everyone continues to push through this challenging year, we are looking forward to getting past it. But, with that, we all want our family to be safe and healthy, so let’s do our part in keeping everyone strong, well, and protected.

** The information included in this article is for general purpose use only. It does not substitute medical advice. Please directly contact your doctor if you or your family member is ill or call 911 for emergencies. Check the disclosure here.**

If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe to the newsletter. Share this article with your families and friends. Thanks for stopping by today!