The beginning of fall provides many new and exciting experiences for young families—leaves changing, hayrides and bonfires, apple cider and pumpkin spice lattes. But, the transition also brings a challenge that no parent enjoys—avoiding sickness as the weather changes.
At The Gardner School, keeping kids healthy during weather transitions is something we take very seriously. And, while several pediatric studies have shown that children who are part of child care programs develop stronger immune systems, we recognize that no child is immune to the sickness that can easily spread during this time of year.
5 Ways to Prevent Sickness During Weather Transitions
Here are five ways our teachers work to teach kids about healthy habits to avoid getting sick as the weather changes:
Reinforcing proper hand washing and sanitizing toys.
Many illnesses are spread through germs shared by touch or when babies put objects in their mouths. Teaching proper hand washing—after blowing one’s nose, using the bathroom, and before eating—is just one of the ways we proactively work to avoid sickness from spreading. The Gardner School’s staff is also proactive about sanitizing toys regularly after play, which helps eliminate germs and keeps toys from potentially spreading any unwanted illnesses.
Teaching healthy habits to prevent sickness from spreading.
Healthy habits, such as covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze and refraining from sharing cups are important to learn during seasons where sickness is common. These are lessons our teachers are constantly teaching and reinforcing throughout the day to help students learn the importance of developing healthy habits.
Supporting good sleep habits.
Another common-sense approach to keeping your kids healthy is to ensure they get enough sleep. Each age group at The Gardner School follows a scheduled program that includes rest times and naps to make sure our students keep a regular sleep schedule to avoid getting sick.
Promoting healthy eating and exercise.
Numerous studies show that children who eat healthier and exercise consistently can help reduce the risk of sickness. At The Gardner School, promoting healthy eating and exercise is something we’ve prioritized at all of our schools. Our play spaces (both indoor and outdoor) are filled with safe and age-appropriate toys and recreational equipment. Our Kids Café also provides healthy snacks and meals for kids to enjoy.
Real-time communication with parents.
We don’t want you to be surprised about your child’s runny nose or cough. Our teachers keep parents informed daily about the status and progress of their children, including real-time updates through our parent communications app. If a child ever becomes ill during the day, we contact his or her parents immediately. Our staff also highly recommends that parents keep children at home when they are ill. This takes an additional proactive step toward preventing the spread of unwanted germs or sicknesses to other students and staff within each school.
While we recognize that we can’t completely prevent students from getting sick, we try to do everything we can to proactively avoid it. If you have any questions about how to keep your child healthy during weather transitions, we’re here to help. Contact one of our schools near you or subscribe to our blog for more practical tips and advice for your child’s health and well-being.
