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Daily Tips For Maintaining And Protecting The Health Of Your Children.

Updated on December 22, 2009

Teaching Your Kids About Germs - Tips For Parents And Kids.

Use The Crook Of Your Arm, Or Use A Hanky When You Sneeze.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." - So goes the old adage.

Especially is this the case when maintaining and protecting our children's health becomes top priority.

Without going overboard then, what daily measure can we as parents take to ensure, protect, and maintain the health and vitality of our children?

* Keep Your Home/Surroundings Clean.

Something as basic as keeping your home (or surroundings if you reside with friends, family, or acquaintances) clean, provides both you and your children with a nearly sterile environment that will discourage the germs and bacteria from running amok.

Though we can't completely rid our home of potentially harmful germs and bacteria, we can however, give our children a fighting chance by reducing them.

* Instill Good Hygiene Habits.

Keeping your home clean is one thing, but without the proper demonstrating and instilling of good hygiene habits, your children may still not have a fighting chance.

Since it's common knowledge that germs are often spread by direct skin contact, teach your children the proper way to:

  • wash their hands with warm soap and water... a.) before and after using the restroom, b.) after blowing their nose, c.) after playing outside, and d.) before they eat
  • sneeze or cough (in the crook of their arm's - I tell my girls to pretend as if they were superheroes, bringing their capes across their faces)
  • bathe regularly

In addition, teach them to refrain from eating or drinking behind others (mommy, daddy, and siblings included), and discourage using other's personal effects (i.e. combs, brushes, lip balm, etc.).

* Provide Well-Balanced Meals.

As cliche' as it may sound, there is much truth to the saying - "you are what you eat".

Keeping this in mind, provide your children with three well-balanced meals and several healthy snacks in between - boosting their immune systems, and enabling them to stay healthy and perform at their very best. Administering a multivitamin as well (though not a substitute for real food) will provide any missing nutrients vital for healthy living.

* Reduce Toxins In Your Home And In Your Child's Body.

Constantly bombarded with toxins found in the very air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink; it has become quite a challenge to avoid such harmful substances and the adverse effects therein.

There are some measures and precautions one can take however, to reduce these very toxins in their homes and in their children's body:

  • Opt for organic fruits and vegetables - if it's price you're concerned with, use a simple solution of baking soda and water to scrub and clean non-organic fruit before consuming - this will help eliminate toxins from substances sprayed on fruit and vegetable crops. In addition, shop for organic, locally grown produce at you local farmers market, or opt for foods that are considered less ccontaminated by pesticides. According to the Environmental Working Group (or EWG), you can significantly lower your child's pesticide exposure - almost 90% - by simply avoiding the most contaminated fruits and veggies such as apples and peaches, and opting for less contaminated ones such as onions and pineapples [visit the site www.foodnews.org for a more detailed food list].
  • Limit; or avoid all together; serving processed foods, or foods with additives, preservatives and dyes.
  • Use a water pitcher equipped with a built in replaceable filter, or use one that connects with your water faucet.
  • Clean with non-toxic or all natural cleaning products.
  • Opt for natural forms of pest-control.
  • Choose clothing or bedding made of organic fabric
  • Purchase several house plants (simple house plants possess the ability to naturally reduce the toxicity levels in your home - ensure that they are kept out of your child's reach).
  • Use a air-purifier (preferably a HEPA)

* Get Them Active - Keep Them Active.

Playtime does more for your child's body than you may think.

In addition to its elements of fun, playtime provides children with the vital exercise needed to keep their bodies in shape, flush it free of toxins, and promote a healthy heart.

* Enforce A Reasonable Bedtime.

A body that lacks sufficient rest is increasingly susceptible and prone to a bevy of illnesses. Therefore, adequate rest is also vital if you're going to give your child's immune system a fighting chance against disease causing germs and bacteria.

* Promote A Stress-Free Environment.

Believe it or not, stress is a major contributor to illnesses of all kinds. Unfortunately, children experience stress as well as adults.

Although it may be impossible to remove stress entirely, it's extremely vital to keep your child's environment as stress free as possible.

* Provide A Stable And Happy Home Environment.

In combination with a stress-free environment, a stable and happy home provides your child with the mental, emotional, and physical stability they so desperately need for their overall well-being.

* Limit Their Contact With Those Who May Be Sick.

In the event other friends, family, or acquaintances are contagiously ill, common sense entails limiting (or completely removing them out of the surroundings if at all possible) their child's contact with these ones.

Whether your child has special health concerns or not, daily maintaining a measure of good health and vitality for our youngsters is extremely important to all parents .... a one time achievement it definitely is not.

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