Practical Ways to Support Immune Function
No one wants to be sick. With cold weather and lack of sunshine approaching, now is the perfect time to start bolstering immune systems. A child’s immune system is like a fortress built up over time. Whether your child is attending childcare, daycare, planning a trip to see loved ones or even simply staying home not attached to a box of tissues this winter, immune support will help keep your winter healthy and vibrant. Within this article we will explore some research-backed, practical ways to help keep your child–even your whole family–healthy and well for the holidays!
Partner with us here at Summit Preparatory Academy to give your little one an excellent start to their early childhood education journey! We would love to help your child learn, grow, and thrive this winter and beyond!
1. Nutrition: Building the Foundation
You can’t have a sturdy structure without a solid foundation. Quality nutrition lays the bricks for a healthy immune system fortress.
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Let them have fruit! Many fruits not only contain vitamin C (excellent for supporting immune function), but a plethora of other vitamins and minerals, as well, which are excellent for raising your bodies natural defenses.
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Avoid seed oils. Oils such as canola, vegetable, soybean oil, safflower oil and the like can all cause inflammation, reducing immune function. Avoiding these where you can is a great start.
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Variety from the beginning—offering a variety of fruits, vegetables, and proteins from a young age will shape long-term food choices as well as long term immune health. Introducing new foods at the right time can even reduce allergy risks (Healthy Eating Research).
Call us today here at Summit Prep Academy and ask about our meal plans and how we work to make sure our students are receiving quality nutrition.
2. Sleep and Rest: Recharging the Defenses
Even the strongest fortress needs time to rebuild.
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Consistent, adequate sleep is major. Quality sleep strengthens infection-fighting cells and lowers stress. Between naps and overnight sleep, preschoolers generally need about 10-13 hours of rest a day. (PMC Sleep Study).
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Regular sleep patterns set children up for quality sleep not just now, but as they age, as well. Research has shown that kids with regular sleep patterns are less likely to get sick and tend to recover more quickly when they do. (EDEN Cohort).
Naps and rest time are an important piece of a preschooler’s day. Schedule a tour with us here at Summit Preparatory Academy and see what our day-to-day schedule looks like and to ask about our nap routines.
3. Play and Safe Exposure: Training the Immune System
Play is more than fun and exercise—it’s a training ground for your child’s immune system.
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Active outdoor play — This is a no brainer, but more than just moving and challenging the body, outdoor play boosts circulation, supports vitamin D production from sunlight, strengthens lungs and so much more!
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Mild encounters — In daycare and childcare settings, children naturally encounter mild germs. While early sniffles are common, research shows these exposures help build immune memory and long-term resilience (Playto).
Within early childhood education, children are not simply growing academically, but physically, emotionally, socially and more, as well. Here at Summit Prep we want to see our students succeed in all aspects of their development! Schedule a tour to see our enticing outdoor play areas and to ask about our daily schedule–from structured learning and play to daily outdoor time!
4. Handwashing: The First Line of Defense
Preschoolers aren’t the most conscientious of germs, so good hand washing hygiene is like placing guards at the gates of their immunity fortress. The germs are washed away before they even have a chance to get through the gates.
Proper handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds removes germs that cause colds, flu, and stomach bugs. Key times when handwashing should occur would be before meals, after using the toilet, after playing outside, and after coughing or sneezing (CDC Handwashing). Sounds simple enough, but staying vigilant can be tiresome when the habits are new. Hold strong and wash hands!
We are intentional with our handwashing here at Summit Preparatory Academy and our early childhood educators are very good about encouraging handwashing to help keep illness out of their classrooms. Come for a tour and ask about the measures we take to ensure classroom hygiene and cleanliness!
Immunity One Day at a Time
Children are building their immunity one healthy habit at a time. With balanced meals, quality sleep, active play and intentional handwashing, children can not only start healthy habits that will last them through adulthood, but they can build healthy immune systems to help them on their way, too.
It’s hard to learn if you aren’t at school or feeling poorly. At Summit Preparatory Academy, one of the ways we support our students’ early childhood education by supporting their health. Call us up today to schedule a tour and ask about the different tactics we employ to help create a healthy learning environment for our students.