Make their meals balanced & healthy

Adequate nutrition is an essential prerequisite for good health. Parents can plan a proper diet for children which includes foods to increase immunity and has the required nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, selenium, iron and protein. These nutrients can prepare the body for different kinds of microbial attacks. Sources are:

High-quality protein foods include milk, eggs, non-veg foods

• Zinc: found in lean meat, poultry, seafood, milk, whole grain products, beans, seeds, and nuts.
• Iron: Found in dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, legumes, pumpkin seeds, eggs, and meat.
• Vitamin C: Fruits like oranges, lemons, and pineapples, are a great source of vitamin C; so are vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and peppers
• Vitamin E: found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, leafy & green vegetables
• Selenium: Foods like Beans, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, and seafood Parents can make these meals more fun for kids by adding their favorite ingredients or presenting them in creative ways.

Nutrition supplements can help too

Nutritional gaps are commonly seen in children who are picky eaters. They may have strong food preferences and often refuse to eat a lot of healthy food including vegetables and fruits. Besides healthy food to eat in the rainy season, parents can also add nutritional supplements to the diet to help children to bridge nutritional gaps  

Adequate hydration is crucial

No matter how busy their schedule may be, make sure the kids don’t forget to drink water. Proper hydration can help the skin and mucous membrane cells to prevent bacteria from entering the body. Besides water, supplements can also help to relieve dehydration following vomiting and diarrhea.

Regular exercise goes a long way

Besides their usual physical activity, some time devoted to exercise can offer many advantages to children’s health, like maintaining a healthy body weight, supporting bone and muscle strength, improving the quality of sleep and reducing anxiety and depression. Parents can plan a basic exercise plan for kids that can be done easily at home and be fun at the same time. 

Proper sleep always helps

Lack of sleep can have an adverse impact on the immune system. It can also make children more likely to get sick. It is hence necessary to make sure that after a long day, kids get adequate and peaceful sleep. 

Immunize with timely vaccinations

Up-to-date vaccination is a very helpful aid against diseases and infections. It helps to guard kids against the latest variants of infections and disease. Vaccines enhance the immune system and help to fight infections more efficiently. They also prepare the body for attacks by viruses and bacteria in the future. 

Apart from these measures, it is equally necessary to make children aware about the need for cleanliness and healthy habits. WHO provides adequate resources for teachers to educate children about the importance of hygiene in a fun and interactive manner. Parents and teachers can share the responsibility of empowering children to fight against the potential health hazards during the rainy season.

A precautionary approach towards health and well-being can make even the monsoon a safe and exciting time for children. It can open doors for new adventures at school and pave the way for holistic development.