Let’s get ready and healthy for school, Kapitbahay!
It’s back-to-school season! From buying new school supplies to preparing their uniforms, there is a lot to look forward to. But as parents, seeing our kids head back to crowded classrooms and unpredictable weather also brings a familiar worry: how can they stay protected and healthy?
When kids are exposed to new environments, their immune systems are put to the test. Fortunately, keeping them healthy, active, and ready to learn is what we’re talking about. Here is a practical guide for back-to-school preparedness to protect your children from common illnesses this school year.
Back-to-School Health Tips for a Strong Immune System
Building your children's immunity starts at home with simple, consistent daily routines.
1. Prepare a Power-Packed Baon (Packed Meal): Nutrition helps strengthen your child’s defenses. Skip the highly processed snacks and opt for a balanced packed meal. Include a colorful mix of fruits, vegetables, and protein to ensure they get the natural vitamins they need to fight off infections. For example, you can add bread, rice, pasta, and potatoes so they can stay full longer. Cut back on sugar and fats as well and choose lean meats like chicken and fish, alongside vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, and cucumbers.
2. Teach Them Proper Hand Hygiene: The simplest way to prevent the spread of colds and flu is handwashing. Teach your kids to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or for as long as singing the “Happy Birthday” song two times, especially before eating and after using the restroom. Using rubbing alcohol or a sanitizer is also a great backup plan, but make sure to supervise them upon using it and that they can safely handle these liquids.
3. Prioritize Sleep: Sleep is important especially for growing kids. Lack of sleep can cause problems for their well-being. Establish a calming bedtime routine to ensure younger kids get 9 to 12 hours of sleep, while older kids and teens get 8 to 10 hours.
4. Keep Them Hydrated: Drinking enough water is essential for your child's daily health. It helps their kidneys efficiently flush out waste and toxins and keeps their muscles energized so they don't easily feel fatigued or tired. Remind them to drink their water especially once they're in school given the Philippine heat.
Your Balik Eskwela Health Kit Essentials
Even with the best habits, the combination of the typical Philippine weather and everyday hassle means that the family might still feel run down. Under any weather, family health must be one of our top priorities. This is where being prepared makes all the difference. Stocking up on school health essentials is what you need to support your children's immunity and help relieve symptoms when anyone in the family feels under the weather.
Here are a few staples to keep in your home medicine cabinet this school year:
For added immune support for older kids and parents, make DDC Ascorbic Acid a part of your morning routine to help strengthen the immune system and resistance against infections.
School takes up a lot of the kids’ physical and mental energy. Enervon C Syrup is a vitamin for kids that supports their nutritional needs during the phase of rapid growth and development and increased physical activity. It is a daily supplement to keep them upbeat, sharp, and protected throughout a long day of classes and extracurriculars.
However, despite our best efforts, fevers and body aches can happen. DDC Paracetamol helps provide relief for minor aches and pains. It also helps relieve pain associated with fever and flu.
Ready for the Year Ahead
Preparing for the coming school year is about setting our kids up for a safe, healthy, and uninterrupted year of learning. By combining healthy daily habits with a well-stocked health kit, you can confidently send them off to school knowing they are protected.
Here’s to a healthy, strong, and successful school year for our kids! For more health essentials, you can always visit MyPharma, your Kapitbahay Pharmacy. - (MyPharma)
References:
1. https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/recipes/healthier-lunchboxes/
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/hand-washing/art-20046253
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5078711/
https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water