First published: 15 August 2022 @ 6:00 pm
Boosting your child’s health before they start school also gives you an opportunity to teach them about good hygiene practices that will help keep them healthy for the rest of their lives.
By setting a good example yourself, you can also show your child how to take care of themselves properly, which will benefit them both now and in the future.
While it’s not possible to erase the risk of your child becoming ill at some point, there are plenty of things you can do to help boost their immune system and keep them healthy.
Good nutrition
Good nutrition is the cornerstone of good health, and the best way to give your child a healthy start in life is to ensure they have a balanced diet.
A balanced diet will help ensure that your child has all the nutrients they need to grow, develop, and function properly.
Good nutrition will also help boost their immune system, which means they’ll be better able to fight off illness and infections.
Avoid Processed Foods
So it’s important that you make sure your child eats a wide variety of foods from all food groups. Try to avoid processed foods as much as possible, and aim for fresh foods.
Make sure your child eats plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, as these are packed with vitamins and minerals which are essential for good health.
Get More Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables also contain antioxidants which can help fight off free radicals in the body, so can play an important role in preventing disease.
Fruit and vegetables are also an excellent source of fibre, which helps keep your child’s digestive system healthy. Fibre is also important for preventing constipation, which can be a common problem in children who are going through puberty.
Constipation can lead to other problems, such as abdominal pain and bloating, so it’s best to avoid it if possible.
Get Them More Protein
Protein is also important for growing children, and should make up about 20% of their diet. Meat is a wonderful source of protein, but you can also choose foods such as beans, pulses and eggs.
Protein-rich foods will help ensure your child has enough energy to keep up with their busy school life.
Don’t Forget Fats
Fats are another important part of a healthy diet for growing children. You should aim to provide around 30% of your child’s calories from fat sources such as butter, oil or margarine.
While it’s best to limit the amount of saturated fat in your child’s diet (found in meat and dairy products), unsaturated fats (found in plant oils) are good for you and can help boost their immune system.
Fats also provide essential fatty acids which help keep skin and hair healthy and reduce the risk of infections such as eczema.
3 Meals a Day
To give your child the best possible start in life, aim for around 3 meals a day with some snacks in between if they’re hungry between meals. This may be difficult at first because young children often have erratic eating habits.
They may eat nothing one day, then suddenly decide they’re starving the next!
But by providing plenty of nutritious food at regular intervals, it ensures that your child grows up healthy.
Good hygiene practices
Good hygiene practices are vital if you want to protect your child’s health from illness while they’re at school or playing with friends outside the home environment.
It will also help protect them from becoming ill themselves when they come into contact with other people who may be sick or carrying germs on their hands or clothes.
Here are some tips for helping your child develop good hygiene practices:
Wash Hands Regularly
Make sure your child washes their hands regularly, especially before eating or preparing food. Washing their hands will help prevent them from becoming ill, and will also help prevent them from passing germs on to other people.
So make sure they wash their hands after using the toilet, before preparing food or eating and after playing outside.
Cover Mouth and Nose When Sneeze/Cough
Teach your child to cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze. Coughing and sneezing can spread germs, so it’s important to prevent them from spreading to other people.
Encourage Them To Brush Teeth And Toenails Regularly
Brushing teeth and toenails regularly is important for keeping your child’s teeth and nails healthy, which is also good for preventing infections such as gingivitis and ingrown nails.
Make Sure They Sleep Enough
Make sure your child gets enough sleep each night, and helps them get to bed at a reasonable time.
Your child’s body needs rest to grow and develop properly, so make sure they’re getting enough sleep each night.
Seek Medical Advice If Necessary
Boosting your child’s health before they start school is an important part of preparing them for the challenges of the classroom. By making sure they have a balanced diet and good hygiene practices, you can help them stay healthy and avoid illness.
If your child does become ill, make sure you seek medical advice as soon as possible. This will help ensure that they get the treatment they need to get better quickly, so they can get back to enjoying their life again!
Our blog, Mature Parent, contains lots of useful tips to help you look after your child’s health and wellbeing. We also have a lot of useful articles on the best ways to boost your child’s immune system. Read them now!
