Tips for Keeping Kids Healthy During Flu Season | Dr. Colin Knight

Dr. Colin Knight
2 min readFeb 8, 2023

--

Parents must be aware of the various steps they can take to keep their kids healthy during the upcoming flu season. The most vulnerable individuals are those over 65 years old and children up to five years old. Pediatricians recommend taking special care of kids younger than five to prevent them from getting severely ill.

PROVIDE BALANCED FOODS

Pediatricians recommend providing healthy snacks and meals to your kids. This can help them fight off the flu and improve their immune system. Limiting junk food and sugary drinks can also help keep them healthy. Ensure to provide plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean meat, and water throughout the week.

PRIORITIZE SLEEP

Getting enough sleep can also help children develop a more robust immune system and prevent them from getting sick. It’s essential to set a bedtime schedule and ensure that your kids stick to it.

ENFORCE EFFECTIVE HAND WASHING

Over the past couple of years, the importance of hand washing has been greatly emphasized. It’s still important to teach your kids to wash their hands frequently, especially when eating, touching their faces, or coming home from school. Doing so can help prevent the spread of germs and keep the entire family healthy.

EXPLAIN SIMPLE HEALTH PRACTICES

Pediatricians also suggest teaching healthy habits such as covering your kid’s mouth when they cough or sneeze. It can help prevent the germs from spreading. Ideally, kids should learn to cough or sneeze into their elbows to minimize the spread of germs until they can wash their hands.

CREATE GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL

During the flu and cold season, school can be a common place where germs can spread. Teaching your kids how to avoid touching their faces or sharing food or drinks can help prevent the spread of germs. If they’re allowed, you can also provide them with a small bottle of hand sanitizer to help them keep their hands clean.

During this flu and cold season, parents need to take the necessary steps to keep their kids healthy. In addition to regular hygiene, these five tips can also help prevent the spread of germs.

This blog was previously published on January 5, 2023 at drColinKnigh.com

--

--

Dr. Colin Knight

Dr. Colin Knight is many things: surgeon. father. photographer. cook. brewer. CrossFit. barefoot runner. DrColinKnight.org