SATURDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) — As children head back to
school, parents can help make sure their little ones stay healthy and
happy all year, an expert suggests.
Adequate sleep and rest are essential, Dr. Peter Richel, a pediatrician
at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt. Kisco, N.Y., said in a hospital
news release. His advice in this regard? Establish fixed bedtime routines
and avoid booking too many extracurricular activities.
Also make sure your children get three healthy meals a day, he added.
Breakfast is particularly important, and eating together as a family helps
promote good communication skills.
To lower disease risk, children should be properly vaccinated against
illnesses such as tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, and parents should
consider other vaccines such as hepatitis A and varicella boosters against
chicken pox. Seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines are additional options that
most parents can request for their kids, Richel noted.
Regular exercise is also important and it should include some form of
aerobic activity, such as taking a brisk walk, Richel suggested. This
could mean limiting the time kids spend in front of computers, TVs and
video games.
Reading and music enrich children’s lives, the pediatrician added. Very
young children should be read to, and older kids should be encouraged to
read during leisure time. Singing and learning to play an instrument are
also great activities for children.
Encourage your kids to do their best, but don’t demand perfection, he
stressed. Keep in mind that each child is an individual who needs
support, but not pressure.
More information
For more on parents and child health, visit the American Academy of Family Physicians.