Top 10 Ways to Boost Your Child's Immunity Against Coronavirus When Returning to School

Parents should make sure their child drinks enough water, especially warm water (if in a cold climate) to keep the throat and respiratory system moist. Many health experts warn that viruses can enter the body if the throat becomes dry, even within just 10 minutes.

Not only should children stay hydrated at home, but parents must also ensure their child drinks enough water at school. To avoid dehydration, parents can prepare a thermos for their child to bring to school, preventing them from sharing cups with others and reducing the risk of bacterial transmission.

Recent research suggests that going to bed early is the "key" to raising a healthy child. Lack of sleep weakens the immune system, and even without the risk of the coronavirus, insufficient sleep can make children more prone to other illnesses. Therefore, establishing a routine where your child gets enough sleep is always a good practice.

Research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that children who go to bed before 8:30 PM are generally healthier. The study also revealed that children who sleep early and wake up early tend to be the healthiest and have a lower risk of developing obesity later in life. Based on these findings, it’s best for parents to establish the habit of putting their child to bed early, ideally before 9 PM every day.

Saltwater helps neutralize acids in the throat caused by bacteria and maintains a healthy pH balance. A study conducted in Japan revealed that gargling with warm saltwater three times a day is an easy and cost-effective way to reduce the risk of upper respiratory infections by up to 40%.

Parents can implement the habit of gargling with saltwater at least twice a day—before bed and after waking up—for children to follow. Additionally, parents can prepare a small bottle of saltwater for their child to bring to school, so they can gargle during the day, especially if the child stays at school for lunch.

Avoiding close contact is a crucial measure to strengthen disease prevention. Ensure that children maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others, particularly from people who are ill (such as those who are coughing or sneezing) and those who do not live with them. Students should strictly follow the rule of keeping at least 1.5 meters apart from their classmates while sitting in class.

Currently, schools are implementing various measures to ensure students' safety as they return, including strict adherence to COVID-19 prevention protocols. For example, classrooms must seat students at least 1.5 meters apart, and each class should not exceed 20 students. It is also essential to maintain as much distance as possible from family members who may be at a higher risk of infection. This includes avoiding hugs, kisses, sharing food (such as using the same fork or sharing a dish), or drinking from the same cup.

Children naturally enjoy sharing toys, personal belongings, and even cups with their friends. However, it’s important to teach children not to share eating utensils or cups, especially during flu season or other respiratory outbreaks. Viruses and bacteria can easily spread through saliva. Therefore, during times of illness, parents should advise their children not to share cups or personal items with friends to prevent the spread of disease.

Another way to approach this is by helping children understand that this behavior is not selfish but is done for the well-being of everyone around them. Parents should clearly explain why this is important, even though it might feel uncomfortable not sharing with friends. Explain that while they may not share toys with their friends, this is a way to protect the community and society. Not sharing personal items, especially cups, during a health crisis is a way to care for others.

Respiratory viruses spread through the air via droplets when someone coughs or sneezes. To prevent this, it's essential to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sneeze and cough into the inside of your elbow. A recent study showed that most people tend to cover their mouth with their hands, which is a poor habit that can spread illness to others. Therefore, always carry tissues and use them when coughing or sneezing.

Breaking the habit of using your hands to cover your nose and mouth can be challenging, as it's a deeply ingrained reflex. However, making this change is crucial to prevent becoming a source of infection for those around you. Even outside of flu season, using tissues to cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing is a hygienic practice that shows consideration for others.

Touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose, or mouth, after coming into contact with someone who has a cold or respiratory infection can lead to the entry of harmful viruses into the body. Children are also at risk of contracting infections from surfaces touched by an infected person, such as door handles, railings, and shared objects, especially when they touch their face afterward. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth is a simple yet important habit to practice.

When someone with a virus sneezes, coughs, or touches a surface, they can inadvertently transfer droplets carrying the virus onto objects and surfaces (also known as fomites). Others can become infected by touching these contaminated surfaces and then touching their face. To minimize this risk, parents should remind their children to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth to prevent the spread of illness.

Health experts emphasize the importance of fostering a positive mindset about school safety among both students and parents. One key aspect of this is ensuring that students wear masks while at school. While masks may not provide complete protection against the coronavirus, they are still widely recommended by health professionals. Antibacterial masks can help prevent the spread of respiratory droplets when someone coughs or sneezes, thus reducing the risk of contracting the virus (especially if the person coughing is unknowingly infected).

Furthermore, wearing a mask enhances protection against other respiratory illnesses as well. Parents should pack extra masks in their children's school bags for easy access when needed. Teachers also play a crucial role in reminding students to wear masks properly, ensuring they cover both the nose and mouth without slipping down to the chin.

Handwashing helps to cleanse and remove harmful pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, from the hands. Therefore, parents should teach their children to wash their hands regularly—before and after meals, after using the restroom, after returning home from outside, or whenever their hands feel dirty.

Soap has both polar and non-polar components. The polar parts dissolve in water, while the non-polar parts, like oils, stick to dirt and grime. This characteristic allows soap to effectively remove impurities from the hands, which are then washed away with water. Therefore, parents should encourage children to wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and rinse thoroughly to prevent the spread of viruses.

In addition to washing with soap, using hand sanitizers is also a recommended preventive measure. Parents should choose sanitizers with 60%-75% alcohol content, as they are effective in killing most viruses, including those causing the corona outbreak. Chinese lab studies have confirmed that 75% alcohol-based sanitizers are particularly effective against the corona virus.

If handwashing isn't possible, hand sanitizer is an excellent alternative. Make sure children rub the sanitizer on all parts of their hands. Parents can purchase small bottles of hand sanitizer for their children to carry in their backpacks while at school.

A healthy body helps reduce the risk of infection from the coronavirus and other pathogens. Furthermore, a robust immune system will make it easier for your child to fight off illnesses if they are unfortunately exposed. Therefore, boosting your child's immunity through a healthy lifestyle and diet is crucial before they return to school.

First, your child should receive adequate nutrition from a variety of foods such as meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. Meals should be thoroughly cooked using fresh, clean ingredients. It is also important for your child to stay hydrated, get enough sleep, and maintain good personal hygiene each day. Strengthening your child's immunity through a healthy lifestyle and diet is beneficial not only during the pandemic but also as a general practice for any time of the year.