January 20, 2017 3 min read

With school around the corner, it’s good to practice habits that keep your children from suffering avoidable respiratory illnesses. Statistics show a high number of contagious illnesses spreading through the schoolyard, so it’s important to do what you can to keep your child fighting fit. The following habits can promote general health, well-being and keep your children at low risk of contracting illnesses like bronchitis, pneumonia and influenza.

NUTRITION

Providing your children with adequate nutrition is one of the key factors to maintaining a strong immune system and reducing illness. Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend a varied diet, consisting of these 5 core food groups: vegetables, fruits, grains, lean meats and dairy. Water is of course the best drink for children and doctors recommend at least 5 glasses per day as part of a balanced diet.

There are plenty of simple choices that you can make in day-to-day life to maximise the nutritional value of your child’s diet. This can be as easy as choosing fruit over lollies or wholemeal bread over white. Avoid processed foods as they will always provide less nutrition and usually contain additives such as sugar or preservatives.

SALT THERAPY

Many medications and preventative measures that are recommended for children are intensive and can result in side effects. Salt therapy on the other hand, especially using the Salin Plus Salt Therapy Device, is a natural, convenient, drug-free and non-invasive method that is safe for all ages and works passively in the background.

Salt Rooms are proving to be very popular, but it is not always easy to visit one and there may not be one in your area. In addition life is so busy these days, with all the kids after school activities, a home device like Salin Plus, can be a very convenient solution. 

Rather than filling your child's room with steam, a very common solution still used today, or relying on regular use of saline sprays, try the Salin Plus to remove air-borne pollutants and inhale tiny salt particles.  

 

HYGIENE ROUTINE

Establishing a hygienic routine will result in good habits in the schoolyard. Many illnesses not only travel through the air, but also from direct contact with people and everyday items. Without knowing the consequences, children will often put toys in their mouths and share things like straws and forks. Setting a good example for children at home helps them to understand how germs spread. Explain why it’s important to clean cutlery, cover up sneezes, and keep their hands out of their mouths.

Hand washing after coughing, sneezing, using the bathroom and before food are essential lessons to teach your children. Hand Hygiene Australia recommend handwashing with soap and water, as well as the use of alcohol based sanitisers that kill bacteria. With a regular hygienic routine, children learn good habits that will keep them from catching avoidable illnesses at school.

REST AND RECOVERY

Adequate sleep is proven to keep children, teenagers and adults healthy. Getting the right amount of sleep can keep children’s immune systems functioning at their best. A healthy immune system is one of the best defences against infection.

Phones, computers, and other technology with bright screens can keep children awake at night as the brightness of the screen prevents production of melatonin, the chemical responsible for sleep. Setting a routine to turn devices off well before bed can help maintain proper sleeping patterns.

If your child does contract an illness, adequate sleep will often be part of the advice your GP will give you. This is an important part of recovery, as the immune system produces additional white blood cells during sleep, fighting infection and healing the body. Sleep can be hard to come by when experiencing breathing difficulties due to a bad cough or otherwise. Using a Salin Plus Salt Therapy Device during the night can reduce airborne particles that would otherwise cause coughing and sleep deprivation, giving your child’s body the time it needs to rest and heal.