Want to keep the kids healthy for back to school? Even though we homeschool, back to school time impacts us as well. We attend many homeschooling field trips, group art classes, and homeschool group gatherings.
Between interacting with more children and confined spaces, children are more likely to get ill. Here are my tips to keep those germs at bay during back to school season.
Here are some tips to keep those germs at bay during back to school season! #health #backtoschool Click To TweetKeep the Kids Healthy for Back to School
When the kids head back to school, you want them to be healthy. With a few changes and good habits, you can help keep your kids healthy for back to school season.
Teach your children proper hand washing.
Proper hand washing is the number one way to keep your kids healthy. Teach them proper hand washing techniques and let them know when it’s essential to wash their hands (i.e. before and after eating, after using the toilet, after sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose, etc.).
It’s also a good practice to get your children to change out of their clothes and wash their hands as soon as they get home from school.
Teach your kids good hygiene.
Aside from proper hand washing, it’s wise to ensure your child practice good hygiene. Here are some things you want them to be aware of:
- Don’t share hats, scarves, combs, or brushes with other children.
- Don’t share drinks or water bottles.
- Use tissues to blow your nose, cover coughs, etc.
- Keep your fingers out of your nose and mouth!
Make sure your kids get plenty of sleep.
It’s critical that your children are well rested, especially when they’re back at school. The body needs plenty of rest to fight germs and viruses.
Ensure your kids have a proper diet.
Make sure your children are eating well-balanced and healthy meals. Limit the sugar in their diet. Also, make sure to increase their intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Provide plenty of fresh water for them to drink. It’s a good idea to invest in a high-quality water bottle.
Also, a multi-vitamin helps if your children aren’t keen on certain fruits and vegetables.
Help your children get exercise and fresh air.
Give your children plenty of opportunities to get fresh air and exercise. Some possible activities include; an evening walk in the neighbourhood, a trip to the playground, or some play time in the backyard.
Do you have any tips on how to keep the kids healthy for back to school season?
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Good tips. We go on walks or ride bikes after school. It’s good for exercise and spending quality time together.
I love those outings when we’re exercising and connecting at the same time! Thanks for sharing Erica!
Great tips and definitely needed here as the kids go back to school, because illness and sickness seem to go hand-in-hand with school and kids. So appreciate all the advice and help we can get on this. Hoping you are enjoying your week so far xoxo ;)
Back-to-school season tends to be one of the sickest seasons. Wishing you a happy, healthy, new school year my friend!
You have a great disclosure policy, by the way!
I’m dreading school starting because Des got hit hard last year. Scarlet got hit less hard so I always hope for luck and good genes on our side.
Supplemented with hand-washing, multi-vitamins, a good diet, and maybe some probiotics in there too!
You’re the first person who’s commented on my disclosure policy! You should win a prize! All you can eat ice cream? All you can view moose? I’ll think of something ;)
Back-to-school season can be so rough on the little ones. Hoping you have a healthier year. Probiotics! Yes! How could I miss that one?! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this my friend. <3
Great tips! The hand-washing really needs to be emphasized in my house. My kids despise washing their hands. Thank you for the tip on the water bottle, too.
Proper handwashing can be a tough one to get kids to adhere to but it’s so important.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts my friend.
Great tips!! It is rough when the school year starts and I have to build my immune system back up again. Hopefully my germy 6th graders don’t pass on anything gross!! Haha.
When I worked in ECE I was sick every year in September, January, and March. Like clockwork.
Yes, hopefully your immunity is stronger plus with grade six kids, you may not be as susceptible (because in theory they should have better hygiene right)?!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Meg!
Oh back to school germs. In our case back to day home germs… I just like to keep Scarlett healthy so I can keep healthy too! We had such a bad winter last winter, I’m hoping for a better one this go around, especially with a new baby coming!! Thanks for the tips! :)
As a former ECE teacher, I can totally relate with the back-to-day home germs. Hoping this year will be gentle on all of you.
Hi Jennifer! Just this year, I was gifted with a wonderful, plastic reusable water bottle. I love it! I just pop it in the dishwasher and it’s fresh and ready to go. I would recommend that to anyone.
Handwashing is the nurse’s best friend. And all of us. That one little thing can stop so many infections. Great tip!
Here’s to a healthy school year :)
Ceil
I love having a water bottle – without it, I’m sure I would never drink as much water as I do.
Handwashing is KEY! I can identify with your “nurse’s best friend” statement – it was the same for me as an early childhood educator.
Great tips! We’ve been pretty lucky as our essential oils kept our immune systems boosted for Little A’s first year of school last year. I just slather Thieves on the bottoms of her feet before school and she’s good to go. Only caught a little bug once last year. Diet is so important too! Sugar just makes kids crabby too. :)
Oh yes! Thieves is great – although I admit I’ve only ever used it on myself and not the kiddos.
Sugar is brutal on the immunity system (and you’re right, it makes kids crabby)!
Great ideas! I think I’ve over trained my kids on how to sneeze and cough correctly because they will always point out when someone doesn’t! Oh dear! Exercise is so crucial, my most active child rarely gets sick and when he does it never last as long and its not as worse as my other kiddos. I need to get them moving more!
Exercise really is a natural immunity booster! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this (and I’m delighted you enjoyed the tips)!
Love the suggestions in this! I was a middle school teacher for 7 years, so I know what it’s like to deal with illness in kids. The sleep and proper diet is a big thing for students. I’ve seen so many who skip their lunches or just have a cup of yogurt and a piece of cheese for lunch Yes, it’s healthy and good for you, but it’s not enough for a growing body. It’s always helpful to ensure that the kids are eating 3 square meals, in and out of the home. It boost their immune system and gives them that energy we teachers crave in our students for the classroom. Thank you for a helpful post and for hosting us on SHINE blog hop! Have a lovely rest of the week :)
I’m glad you enjoyed these suggestions! I think the teachers and nurses understand these tips the most hey!? I know when I was an ECE professional, we were really rigid about handwashing. It makes a huge difference to the overall well-being of the class!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Maria (and for participating in the #SHINEbloghop).
The first thing our preschool has the kids do on arrival if to wash their hands while the parents sign them in. Its a great habit for them to get into
As a former ECE professional, I remember we had the children wash their hands when they entered the room and then once again upon leaving the room. It makes a huge difference!
These are great tips, Jennifer! We really need to get back to proper diets in our house. We ate a lot of junk food this summer and that always makes it hard to get back on track.
I’m big on hand washing, obsessively so. I think it’s one of the simplest, and most important ways to stay healthy.
Summer truly is the time of the junk food isn’t it?! Ice cream, pie, popsicles… the list goes on and on. Fall is a great time to reset those habits!
Hand washing is something I’m incredibly insistent on. We probably wash too much, but I think it’s probably the #1 way my little guy has gotten sick.
Handwashing is so important. It’s the one habit I’m MOST insistent about!
Yes! We have been back in school for almost a month now and have had 2 viruses already! We had none this summer… Back to school time in all it’s glory, no?
I love your suggestion for lot’s of fresh air. A healthy body and mind are such important compliments in a child’s life!
Two viruses already?! Brutal!
Fresh air and exercise are so important. I think schools should have more learning time outside… it would keep those germs in check!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Jen! Wishing you a healthier days ahead!
These are great tips! I’ve been giving my kids probiotics and in the last year and a half, I think they have had one minor cold.
Probiotics are awesome! They make such a huge impact on immunity. Thanks for sharing that Melissa!
We spent the day at the beach with friends and we all commented on how none of the kids have been sick all summer… but next week they go back to being surrounded by germs! Great tips x
That outside time makes a world of difference! All the kids aren’t cooped up with each other (and their germs) in a small classroom.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this… I’m glad you found these tips helpful.
Yes! Love your tips. They are all crucial to healthy kids. Thanks so much for the reminder.
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed these tips Erin!