When the school year begins your child’s chances of getting sick increase substantially. They are around many kids for most of the day. Everyone is touching things around the school and classroom, many are not washing their hands, and kids have a habit of sneezing without covering their mouth and nose. Because of these reasons, sickness is an inevitable part of going back to school. Furthermore, the weather begins cooling down and cold and flu season arrives in full force. Schools are one of the biggest breading grounds for spreading the cold and the flu, so you will want to make sure your kids are protected from illness as much as possible.
The most popular way parents like to make sure their child does not fall ill is getting the flu shot. The flu shot is very controversial and there are some serious risks associated with the vaccination. With more and more people avoiding the flu shot and not getting the proper nutrition, vitamins, and minerals from fruits, veggies, and other healthy foods, colds and flus are easier to catch.
But the good news is there are tons of ways to keep kids from getting sick naturally. You do not need vaccinations and medications to keep your kids healthy.
In this post, we will go over the best natural ways to keep your kids from getting sick once school begins and during cold and flu season that is fast approaching!
Wash Hands
Having your kids wash their hands more frequently is a must. It is one of the best and simplest ways to stop the spread of germs. Washing with warm and soapy water ensures that all of the bad bacteria is being washed away, so the chances of getting sick decreases. Having your kids wash their hands right when they come home from school, after they are done playing, and after they go to the bathroom is a must. You should also encourage your kids to wash their hands at school throughout the day as much as possible.
Eat Fruits and Veggies
Upping your kids’ fruits and veggies intake is a huge deal when it comes to keeping their immune system strong and healthy. All of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in produce keep their immune system functioning the proper way. Adding in lots of berries, especially blueberries and blackberries, contain very high levels of antioxidants that will keep your kids extremely healthy when they go back to school.
Giving your kids a wide variety of produce and having them “eat the rainbow” will also ensure they are getting proper nutrient variety to keep them healthy.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleeping is so important for your child’s growing and developing body. It lets their body relax, recharge, and keep their immune system and other bodily systems strong. Think about when you don’t get enough sleep. Your feel exhausted, cranky, run down, and lethargic. These things can all lead to a weakened immune system and a body that is not as strong as it should be.
If you can, have your kids go to sleep thirty minutes to one hour before their typical bedtime. Increasing their sleep will help them feel better overall and also help prevent colds and flus.
Give a Probiotic
Even though this is a bit pricy, giving your kids a daily probiotic during the school year, or at the very least during cold and flu season, is a great way to stop them from picking up illnesses. Probiotics can help the digestive system and the gut, which many people think of as the second brain. Your gut and your immune system are directly linked, so if your child has a healthy gut they are going to have a healthy body.
If you are looking for a good kid’s probiotic, check out this helpful article.
Take Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
This may be the most funky suggestion on the list, but there are many parents that swear by organic virgin coconut oil for keeping their kids healthy. Virgin coconut oil is antibacterial and antifungal, which can in theory help fight a variety of illnesses. One parent claims when their child is getting sick she gives them a tablespoon of coconut oil at night and by the following morning their kid’s symptoms have cleared.