Children’s health greatly influences their development and their readiness to learn.  If your children aren’t feeling well, they will not do as well in school.  If you help your children develop good health habits, this will go a long way in helping them to do better in school.

Steps to take to help your children develop good habits are:

1. Give your children a nourishing breakfast.

   1. Numerous studies indicate children who eat breakfast are more alert and attentive than those who skip it.

   2. Many students come to the clinic with stomach aches around 9:00 a.m. because they are hungry.

2. Be sure they get enough sleep.

   1. Adequate sleep improves a child’s mood, concentration and energy.

3. Prevent the spread of disease by appropriate cleanliness.

   1. Washing hands before eating and after the bathroom.

   2. Bathing or showering daily.

4. Drink at least 6 – 8 glasses of water a day.

   1. This provides needed hydration.

   2. Water is second only to oxygen in importance to the body.

Sometimes, despite our best effort, our children still get sick.  Here are some guidelines for when NOT to send your children to school

1. Fever of 100 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours.

2. Vomiting and/or diarrhea during the night or before school

3. A rash accompanied by signs of illness – fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough – please seek medical attention.

4. Red, itchy, watery, crusty eyes – this could be pink eye which is very contagious.

Children should be encouraged to tolerate minor complaints in the classroom, such as nasal congestion, minor headaches, stomach aches, sore throats.  Encourage them to care for minor complaints themselves by drinking adequate water, going to the bathroom, and relaxing by taking deep slow breaths for a couple of minutes.

Children who practice healthy habits and learn to take care of themselves whenever possible will ultimately develop and maintain a sense of well being.