Kids and Cold Season: The ABCs of Health and Safety

Did you know that most children will have at least six to eight colds each year? Many of those illnesses happen during winter when everyone spends more time indoors. As the holiday season approaches, Advantage Care Health Centers created a helpful “kids and cold season checklist” you can follow to maintain the health and wellness of your family.

Kids and Cold Season: Winter Health and Wellness Tips

Encourage Frequent Hand Washing

Children are known for frequently touching their mouths and faces, which can increase the risk of spreading germs and bacteria. Help your child stay healthy this winter by encouraging them to wash their hands often at home and while at school.

Hands should be washed with soap and warm water to effectively remove germs, especially after using the bathroom, before eating, and after playing.

Also, make sure that your family has hand sanitizer for those times when soap and water aren’t readily available.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Healthy eating plays a crucial role in improving your child’s ability to stay healthy.

When preparing meals, remember that healthy meals are colorful meals. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables when cooking and providing snacks. These types of foods are high in immune-boosting nutrients.

During cold and flu season, include foods high in vitamin C and vitamin D in your family’s diet. Minimize foods that are high in sugars, preservatives, and additives.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Depending on their age, most children need 9-14 hours of sleep each night. Sleep deprivation can weaken the immune system, which can increase the risk of developing an illness.

Kids and Cold Season: Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep

• Follow an evening routine
• Dim the lights and ensure your child’s room is cool
• Minimize screen time an hour before bed
• Wind down with a book or music

When your child gets the sleep they need each night, their immune system remains strong against the common cold and other illnesses.

Stay Active

Research has found that there is a direct link between exercise and the immune system. Physical activity boosts the immune system, which can decrease your child’s risk of getting sick.

Being active during the winter can help reduce cold and flu episodes in both children and adults.

Although kids and cold season can often mean lots of inactivity, there are plenty of indoor activities you could try in winter, including:

• Build a fort
• Go on an indoor scavenger hunt
• Have a dance party

Frequently Clean High-Touch Surfaces

Tables, doorknobs, and other high-touch areas in your house should be cleaned often to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Disinfectant products, such as wipes and sprays, are a great way to provide your family with added protection.

Advantage Care: We C.A.R.E. About Your Family’s Health

By following these basic recommendations for kids and cold season, you can minimize your children’s risk of catching colds and the flu. But, if you have any questions or concerns about your family’s health and wellness, Advantage Care Health Centers is the place to start. We provide coordinated, accessible, reliable, and efficient health care services to children and adults, regardless of insurance status or the ability to pay.

Contact us today to request an appointment.