Back to school with Haliborange
Getting set for a new school year can be a busy time for all the family, especially if children are starting school for the very first time or are joining a new class. Staying well can be particularly challenging when going back to school, especially as children may come into contact with new bugs.
As the school year begins, it is important to keep children’s immune systems healthy. Good nutrition is key in helping maintain the body’s natural defences. However, if your children don’t get all the nutrients they need from their diet or if they need extra support during the winter months, taking supplements could help.
Healthy Eating
It is recommended that children eat five portions of fruit or vegetables a day as they are naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. Portion sizes vary with age so work out what is right by measuring one portion as the amount they can hold in the palm of their hand. If your child doesn’t eat their five portions of fruit and vegetables every day you may want to consider a supplement – particularly in the winter months when we tend to eat less fruit and vegetables.
Encouraging Good Hygiene Practices :
Aswell as ensuring your child exercises and has a healthy balanced diet, teaching them about good hygiene may help support their immunity. Children often don't realise the importance of washing their hands properly - particularly after using the bathroom and before meals. Encouraging good hygiene practices at the start of term will help ensure they adopt best practice both in the home and throughout the school year.
- Make sure they have a good supply of clean tissues to hand so they never run out and that they know to use a new tissue each time they need one. 'Handy packs' are great for school bags and you can now get colourful, patterned tissues which children might be more inclined to use.
- Show your child or children how to use a tissue properly so that it covers their nose and mouth whenever they cough or sneeze and remind them of the importance of putting their used tisses in the bin immediately and washing their hands thoroughly afterwards.
- Make hand washing fun. Get your child to make their own hand washing posters that can be put up in the bathroom to remind them of the importance of washing their hands after they have used the toilet or been playing in the playground. At home you can put up a chart and reward your children with stickers - once they have collected 10 stickers, reward them with a treat.
- Involve your child in household chores by giving them small tasks to complete - explain to them why it is so important to keep surfaces clean at home and at school.
Setting a routine:
Research shows that children respond well to routines as it helps them to feel secure and to develop self-discipline. It also prevents upset caused by constantly changing plans. While sticking to a regular routine is easier said than done, it can make a real difference to a child’s behaviour as well as making the school run less stressful for all the family.
- It may not seem like much when you’ve got a million other things on your mind, but doing the little jobs the night before a school day can really help, whether it is laying out the uniform, packing the PE kit or making sandwiches
- On a busy day, it is hard to think beyond your plans for the next few hours, let alone what you will be doing in the weeks ahead. Instead of trying to remember everything, try keeping track of after-school clubs or sports activities in a wall planner which everyone can see so you’re not the only one who knows what is going on
- After weeks of free time and more flexible schedules, bed time can be every parent’s worst nightmare. Avoid activities that may be over-stimulating before bed time to ensure a good night’s sleep. Cuddling up for a bed time story is a good way of spending quality time together and when built into a regular routine, signals to your child’s body clock that it’s time for bed
- Set aside dedicated time for homework during the week or at the weekend. Support your child by providing the right environment, space, light and resources. Try to minimise distractions by turning the TV off, switch mobiles off, and keep siblings quiet
Settling in to a new class
The new school term can be stressful for children as it is often a time of change and new experiences. Whether they are starting school for the first time or settling into a new class there are little things that you can do to ensure the process goes smoothly.
- Explain what an average day will look like and who their teachers and classmates will be as this will help prepare them for what to expect and prevent any unnecessary upset or worries.
- If your child is starting school for the first time, consider doing a dry school run. Familiarising your child with the route ahead of time will help to settle nerves.
- Once they have got used to the idea of being back at school and having less play time, give them things to look forward to such as fun activities and clubs they can join and encourage and organise after-school play-dates to help them form new friendships.
- Having plenty of time to say a proper goodbye in the morning and knowing there will be a familiar face waiting for them when the bell rings can help things go smoothly especially in the first few weeks back at school
Keeping your child healthy
During the back to school period it is more important than ever to support a healthy and strong immune system, especially for children.
- Classrooms are an ideal breeding ground for bugs, especially when starting or returning to school, large groups of children will be in close contact so germs can spread quickly.
- To help children maintain a healthy immune system, put up a chart and reward them for washing their hands with stickers so that they are given a treat once they collect 10 stickers. You could also encourage children to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they sneeze and give them colourful tissues so they are more fun to use.
- Encourage children to play outside and exercise for at least an hour every day, as per government recommendations. It is recommended that children are exposed to 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine several times a week to obtain the recommended intake of vitamin D. This is not always easy, especially with less sun during the winter months, and as vitamin D cannot be easily obtained from dietary sources a daily supplement may be something to consider. Vitamin D is important in helping maintain a healthy immune system and in the growth of bones by stimulating the absorption of calcium. This is especially important for children who should build up their bone reserves for later in life when bone mass and density begin to fall.
- Consider a supplement. Haliborange Kids Vitamin C Immune Softies are blackcurrant flavoured and specially formulated to help maintain your child’s natural immune defences.
