Keeping Your Preschooler Healthy During Cold & Flu Season in Howard County, MD
Many parents worry about how to keep their little ones healthy, especially if they attend daycare. Daycare centers have many germs due to the close interaction between children, making it a prime environment for colds, flu, and other contagious illnesses to spread. With the right strategies and precautions, you can minimize the risk of your child catching something.
Here’s what we suggest at Your Journey Preschool to keep your child healthy:
Teach Good Hygiene
The most important step in preventing illness is ensuring your child practices good hygiene. At daycare, kids often forget the basics because they’re busy playing, so it’s essential to reinforce these habits at home.
Handwashing: Teach your child to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Coughing and Sneezing Etiquette: Encourage your child to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or their elbow when coughing or sneezing.
Avoid Touching Face: Remind kids to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth, as this can spread germs from their hands to their face.
Boost Kids Immune System
While no diet or supplement can guarantee protection, you can give their immune system a helping hand.
Adequate Sleep: A consistent sleep schedule can help their body recover and stay strong.
Other ideas for boosting immune system are:
Healthy Nutrition: Serve foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, berries, and bell peppers, which can support immunity.
Hydration: Ensure your child is drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Staying hydrated is crucial for overall health.
Keep Your Child Home If They’re Sick
This one may be the hardest, but it’s vital to prevent the spread of illness to other children at daycare. If your child is showing signs of illness like a cough, fever, runny nose, or body aches, it’s important to keep them home until they’re no longer contagious.
Know When to Keep Them Home: If your child has a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or other contagious symptoms, they should stay home to recover.
Follow Preschool Policies: Be sure you’re familiar with your daycare’s policies regarding sick children. Some may require a doctor’s note before your child returns.
Staying healthy at daycare during cold and flu season can feel like a challenge, but with the right practices in place, you can greatly reduce the chances of your child becoming ill. Focus on teaching hygiene, boosting their immune system, and following proper daycare protocols. Here at Your Journey Preschool we believe in a healthy environment for your children to thrive. We’re so excited to welcome families from Sykesville, Md! If you’re looking for a preschool for your child come tour our facility and see what we can offer you today!