Our children are exposed to so many different germs and come
into contact with superbugs and viruses on a daily basis, and even more so when
they are in daycare and school. While we can’t prevent them from getting sick
at all, and getting exposed to viruses is what actually builds their immature
immune systems, there is a lot we can do as parents to reduce the number of
illnesses per year, as well as lessen the severity when they do get sick.
As a Mom of three I am always doing many things to keep my children
healthy, happy with their immune systems functioning to the best they can be. I
look to the holistic model (mental, emotional, physical and spiritual) for
balanced health, and consider that everything is connected. If our children are
not well rested, eat too much of sugar and fake junk foods, have too many
activities they rush around to every week (on top of school) and their home
life is tense and stressful (with unbalanced and stressed out parents) these
factors all have an effect on their immune systems and overall well-being. So,
what are we to do? Here are some tips to keep in mind when considering your
child’s health:
1) Reduce refined sugars: Sugar depletes the immune system, period. Sugar is also in just about every single processed
food and packaged drinks. While 100% fruit juice has no added sugar, it is pretty close to the same thing as a lot of the naturally occurring nutrients have been processed out and later added back in. It is still a processed food and should be limited. An alternative 'soda' I give my kids for special occasions is called Zevia. It is sweetened with Stevia and comes in several different flavors. Or, try freshly squeezed fruit juice topped off with sparkling water. Read labels, and avoid foods that have more than 3-4 grams (or
less) sugar per serving. It all adds up.
2) Make sleep a high priority: Young kids need 11-12 hours of
quality sleep per night, most take at least an hour to wind down after a busy day. I try to start the bedtime routine of diming the lights, and zero screen time after 6 p.m. on school nights.
3) Hygiene: Teach them proper hand washing habits. Remind
them to use these same habits at school as well. Skip the chemical loaded 'anti-bacterial' soaps and go for a naturally derived soap instead.
4) Subdue stress: Kids get stressed and overwhelmed just like we do, and these days are way too overscheduled, and need more down-time carved in their days. Teach them the essential life- skill of relaxation and help them learn ways
to unwind from the day, such as meditation, deep breathing, walking in nature,
spending time with a pet, journaling or drawing before bed. Make sure they have
regular ‘recharge’ periods during the day as well between activities. Also be mindful of your own stress levels and emotional balance, as our presence in the home has an effect on our kids well-being. Take care to attend to your own self- care and model healthy stress management.
5) Nutrition: Whole food nutrition is the best foundation we
can give our kids, for a healthy lifestyle. Whole foods as much as possible is
the way to go!
6) Support the body:
Strategic supplementation is helpful. A quality
multi vitamin, vitamin C, Vitamin D, and (Echinacea or Elderberry extract when
they are sick) are a good place to start. If frequent viruses and infections are present, have their blood tested for nutrient deficiencies such as low iron or vitamin D levels.
7) Explore essential oils: Only use pure, therapeutic grade essential oils that
are certified pure, and safe for ingestion. Two of my favorite products I use on my kids are the doTERRA "On Guard" protective
blend, and "Serenity" relaxation blends. For fever peppermint is helpful applied diluted with a carrier oil and applies to the forehead, and "Breathe" Respiratory blend is wonderful for cough and stuffy noses. For a free consultation about how to integrate the use of oils into your family life, contact me to book an appointment. View my website here: http://www.mydoterra.com/mindbodyhealing/
Educate yourself, learn all that you can about embracing a holistic health approach for yourself and family, pass what you
learn onto your children. As a parent we can do a much better job of raising
healthy, happy kids if we use an ounce of prevention along with being proactive
and informed about healthy living. We also must practice what we are teaching,
by living well as a healthy role model for our kids. If they see us making exercise a priority, making green smoothies and taking time to relax, they will be much more open to following along! If we take care to plant the seeds of living
well while our children are young, what they learn will serve them very
well in the future. Teaching them how to take care of their precious mind, body and soul is one of greatest gifts we can give our children, and one that will last a lifetime.
Leanne Oaten is a Holistic Counsellor, and Integrative
Wellness Coach. She works one-to- one with people who want to improve their health and make positive changes in their life. She can be reached at 250.319.3630 or www.soulworkcounselling.com
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