How to protect your child's immunity during the school term? 5 tips →

Author: Li Linlin, Chief Physician, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University

Reviewer: Yang Guanglu, Chief Physician, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University

As the autumn wind blows, the new semester begins. Children embark on a new journey with a desire for new knowledge and a vision of campus life. However, the beginning of the school year is also a time when children's immunity is vulnerable to challenges. How to effectively protect children's immunity is crucial to their healthy growth. This article will provide parents with practical suggestions from multiple aspects such as diet, sleep, personal hygiene, psychological adjustment and vaccination.

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1. Balanced nutrition to boost immunity

Diet is the cornerstone of children's immunity. After school starts, children's learning burden increases, and they need adequate nutrition to support the development of their bodies and brains. Parents should ensure that their children's diet structure is reasonable and contains enough high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. Specifically, children can eat more high-quality protein foods such as fish, shrimp, eggs, and milk. These foods not only help growth and development, but also enhance immunity. At the same time, eating more fungal foods such as mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms, as well as vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals such as spinach, celery, and broccoli can also effectively enhance children's immunity. In addition, avoid letting children consume too much pickled meat, fried foods, and sugary drinks, which may weaken the immune system.

2. Get enough sleep to restore your strength and vitality

Good sleep is an important guarantee for children's immunity. After school starts, children need to adapt to the new routine, and parents should help them develop good sleeping habits. Depending on their age, the amount of sleep they need each day varies. Generally speaking, primary school students need 10 hours, junior high school students need 9 hours, and high school students need 8 hours. Parents should ensure that their children go to bed on time at night and create a quiet and comfortable sleeping environment. If children do not get enough sleep at night, they can take a nap during the day to replenish their energy.

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3. Personal hygiene, stay away from germs

Personal hygiene habits are the first line of defense against disease. Parents should teach their children to develop the good habit of washing hands frequently, especially before meals, after defecation, and after touching public items, and clean their hands thoroughly with running water and soap. In addition, avoid touching susceptible parts such as eyes, mouth and nose with your hands to reduce the risk of spreading germs. During school, children should carry personal protective equipment such as masks and tissues with them and wear them correctly when necessary. At the same time, parents should also pay attention to the cleanliness of their children's clothes, change and wash them regularly, keep the room ventilated and dry, and reduce the breeding of germs.

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4. Psychological adjustment to maintain a happy mood

At the beginning of the school year, children may feel anxious and uneasy due to changes in the environment and study pressure. These negative emotions will affect children's immunity and make them more susceptible to illness. Therefore, parents should pay attention to their children's psychological changes and give them care and support in a timely manner. You can communicate with your children to understand their thoughts and feelings; encourage them to participate in group activities and make new friends; and participate in outdoor activities or hobbies together to help children release stress and relax.

5. Get vaccinated in time to build an immune barrier

Vaccines are one of the most economical and effective means of preventing infectious diseases. Parents should take their children to complete various vaccinations in a timely manner in accordance with the requirements of the national immunization plan. New students are also required to bring their vaccination certificates for inspection when entering kindergartens and schools. Vaccinations can allow children to produce antibodies against specific pathogens, so that they can respond quickly when encountering these pathogens and effectively resist the invasion of diseases.

Conclusion

The start of the school year is an important starting point in the growth of children, and it is also a period that parents need to pay special attention to. Through efforts in balanced diet, adequate sleep, personal hygiene, psychological adjustment and timely vaccination, we can jointly protect children's immunity and escort their healthy growth. Let us work together to create a healthier and happier growth environment for children!