Papua New Guinea’s rainy season is already here! From the months of December to March, the country is now experiencing the most precipitations. Plus, sick children. Kids usually catch the fever, colds and flu during this gloomy weather. And as parents, we can’t help but get worried.
But there’s a way on how you could keep your child from getting sick during the rainy season. And it all starts with the following basic tips.
Take a bath daily.
While your kids will refuse to take a bath because of the cold weather, it is still imperative for your kids to observe proper hygiene. If they don’t clean themselves up, the bacteria, viruses and germs will stay stuck on your child’s body, making them sick. If your children couldn’t really stand the cold water, get your water heater and warm the cold water. This way, your child won’t have an excuse to tell you that he couldn’t take a bath because the water is cold.
Keep the hands always clean.
The presence of moisture attracts a lot of germs, so tell your child to always keep his hands clean, especially before eating. But telling him to wash his hands is not enough. Show your child the proper way of washing his hands. To do this, wet your hands under a running water, then use a soap to lather up your hands. Then scrub them for about 15 to 20 seconds.
Eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C.
If you want to boost the immunity of your child, then give him fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C such as yellow bell peppers, guavas, dark green leafy vegetables (kale, spinach), green kiwi fruit, broccoli, strawberries, oranges, tomatoes and papaya. Vitamin C is considered as a powerful antioxidant that is not only known to fight sickness, but is also effective in reducing cancer risks.
Minimize stressors.
Since the rainy season makes your child prone to sickness, he will become more prone to it if he experiences stress. So, don’t set unrealistic expectations to your child, especially what he does on school. While we do want our children to do extremely well at school, if he’s pressured on it, that won’t do any good. If your child has gotten a failing grade on his exam, don’t act like it’s the end of the world. Learn to laugh at bad things, and just promise to do better. Another way to minimize stressors around your child is by having him do his favorite hobbies and exercising regularly.
Let your child rest.
The rainy season is the perfect time to get plenty of rest. Having enough hours of sleep will help your child to stay healthy and energized. But if your child has difficulty sleeping, you could help him get to sleep by giving him a warm glass of milk, turning off the lights and TV. If your child is still a preschooler, they need to get at least 11 to 13 hours of sleep, then 10 to 11 hours for school-age kids.
Do you have other tips to share to keep children from getting sick during the rainy season? Don’t hesitate to share it with us.