Keeping Kids Healthy In the New School Year:How to Avoid the Ick.

By this point, all the kids are back to school, and we are back to having structures and schedule in our lives. The Margarita buckets have been put away until next year, and we're only a few weeks away from breaking out fall boots and cozy sweaters. We all know how hard it can be (especially those among us blessed with the opportunity to be first year teachers) to keep kids healthy throughout the school year. So what do you do when that gross stomach bug is going around two weeks before Christmas and little Johnny's birthday party put all of our little walking infections together in the same Chuck E. Cheese play room? There are some easy ways to take preemptive efforts to keep your kids healthy this fall.

1. Make Sure They Know What To Do
This is such an obvious one, but it needs to be said. Make sure your child knows to cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing, to throw away tissues promptly, etc. Prevention methods like these will help them from infecting others as well as the classroom setting itself.

2.Immunizations are Essential
Typically, the school will require that your child's immunization records are up to date, but make sure you double check, this will help them avoid getting bogged down by bigger more dangerous illnesses if they happen to make their way around the classroom.

3. Hand washing 101
Make sure your child remembers to wash their hands multiple times per day, especially before meals or snacks and after using the bathroom. They should lather up with soap and warm water for at least twenty seconds each time. It may help to teach them to sing a song while doing it so they know exactly what the right amount of time feels like. Also, make sure you're taking a minute to wipe down surfaces in the house, light switches, door knobs, faucets, etc, each day to keep any germs they do bring home from spreading them or the rest of the family.

4. Keep them balanced
Diet has much more to do with healthfulness than we realize some times. Making sure your child's diet is balanced, with the appropriate servings of fruit (especially those full of antioxidants) and vegetables as well as protein and complex carbs (these will keep them focused), will help their immune systems deflect illness more efficiently.

5. Let them stay home
They best place for your child when they're sick is right at home, so if you're in doubt, let them take the day. The extra rest and day off from exposure to other germs that may be in the classroom will help them recover faster and avoid getting even worse.

I try to write myself little notes to remind me to pick up prescriptions, antibacterial wipes or hand sanitizer in my Caradidi planner, in order to stay healthy during flu season. What do you do to keep your family healthy? Share your tips and strategies below!