Healthy Practices for Back to School

It's already that time of year again when your children will be heading back to school.  While it may be a time of relief for parents, it can also be a time of stress when you are dealing with all of the illnesses and germs that children are susceptible to at school.

So, how can you help keep your child healthy throughout the school year?  Follow these tips to keep your child in school and out of the doctor's office:

• Remind your child of the importance of washing their hands, not only before lunch and after using the rest room, but also when they get home from school.
• Remind your child to keep their fingers and hands out of their mouth.  So many germs are spread this way and infections could ensue.
• Give your child a daily vitamin.  This will help them to build their immune systems and fight infections better.
• Remind your child not to drink from other children's cups or use their utensils.
• Make sure your child gets a physical before the school year starts.  This will help to target any health problems prior to the start of the school year.
• Make sure that your child gets 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night.  Getting the right amount of sleep is important to keeping your child healthy.
• Make sure to feed your child a nutritious and balanced diet each day.  Getting the appropriate vitamins and minerals in their diet will also aid in building their immune systems and will lead to an overall healthier child.