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Want to avoid new-term sniffles and back-to-school bugs? Put these healthy habits firmly into place
August and September are always a busy time for parents and youngsters.
After weeks of enjoying the unstructured freedom of the summer holidays, it’s time to get back into the swing of the new school year in the UAE.
While you’ll likely have already organised new school shoes, fresh exercise books and replenished pencil cases, there are some additional things you can do ahead of the first day back, to help keep common classroom health issues at bay.
Here are six back-to-school health tips in the UAE to keep in mind…
1. Check for head lice
According to research, around a third of school children contract head lice at one point or another, so make sure you thoroughly check your child’s hair before they go back to the classroom, to stop an unwanted outbreak on the playground.
Use a fine-toothed comb to part the hair and then shine a bright light onto their scalp. If your child is unlucky enough to have caught lice over the summer break, you’ll notice small, sesame seed-sized insects moving around, or nits – the lice egg cases – attached to individual hairs.
Even if your little ones are currently lice-free, it’s worth keeping an eye on any excessive head scratching during term time and implementing weekly comb checks to make sure they haven’t picked them up.
2. Overhaul packed lunches
When children go back back to school, it can be easy to get wrapped up in chaos of daily routines and forget about basic things like nutrition.
The new school year is a really good time to change bad eating habits and nix the crisps, fizzy drinks and chocolate bars from packed lunches (there’s nothing to say those things can’t be enjoyed as treats – just not on a daily basis).
Swap sweets for dried fruit, include a serving of crunchy vegetables, plump for wholemeal bread for sarnies and if your child doesn’t like the taste of plain water, swap sugary drinks for homemade, fruit-infused H20.
3. Get into a good hand-washing habit
Flu viruses can survive for up to 24 hours on hard surfaces, and one of the number one ways to fight the spread of germs and prevent sickness in the new semester and beyond is for everyone in the family to practice good hygiene.
Make sure kids learn to wash their hands after going to the loo with warm, soapy water for long enough to sing the ‘happy birthday’ song in their head.
4. Book in for an eye test
Most of what your child learns at school is through vision, so make sure they’re not squinting or struggling to see the blackboard.
Eyesight usually keeps on developing up until the age of seven or eight, so it’s good to get into the habit of getting a check-up every August or September – although the optician will let you know if you need to visit more frequently.
5. Vaccinate
Ahead of the new school term, check with your GP surgery that your child is up to date on all of their jabs.
From flu shots and HPV vaccines to three-in-one tetanus, diphtheria and polio boosters, your GP can let you know what vaccinations your child is eligible for, according to their age.
6. Bolster their immunity
Another great way to help ward off coughs and colds in the classroom? Give kid’s immune system a helping hand by making sure they’re getting their five-a-day of fruits and vegetables, as part of an overall balanced diet, and over eight hours of sleep a night. It’s a good idea to also help keep stress levels down by providing a suitable and calm environment for any homework tasks, and plenty of free time to switch off afterwards.
