5 Effective Ways to Help Boost your Child’s Immune System

Keeping ourselves safe in the midst of a worldwide health crisis is a challenge not only for our world leaders but also for us parents who want to keep everyone in the family safe. If we could keep our children away from unwelcome diseases at all times and wrap them up in a plastic bubble, we would, but that’s of course, outrageous and impossible. 

So what should we do then? The next best step is to work on boosting our child’s immune system.

Luckily we have antibodies that protect us by naturally fighting off harmful bacteria and viruses that make us sick. And it doesn’t really take much in the way of effort and resources to strengthen them.

Let’s take a look at some effective ways to boost your child’s immune system.

Probiotic-rich foods strengthen our gut flora

Our tummies house both good and bad bacteria. And while some can be harmful to your health, most bacteria do well in keeping your digestive tract healthy. Maintaining a good balance of good and bad live microorganisms in the gut is necessary for our gastrointestinal health, and boosting the presence of our good gut flora also equates to boosting our immune system. 

Eating probiotic-rich food such as yogurt, pickles, some types of cheeses, kimchi, etc, can help introduce live good bacteria in the stomach. Although supplements can do this too, finding natural food sources is always the ideal way to ingest them.

These probiotic-rich foods give plenty of benefits for strengthening gastrointestinal health. They also reduce the chances of your kids getting an upset stomach, developing autoimmune diseases, and having various food intolerances. 

Replace sugary snacks with fruit

Kids tend to have an insatiable love for snacks. Chips and other sweets are okay in moderation but are not an ideal food to give your kids as snacks for school, nor something to munch on a lazy weekday afternoon. 

So while kids are busy playing video games or watching TV, swap out these unhealthy snacks for yummy fruit slices. Not only are they sweet and healthy, but also a surefire way to help boost your child’s immune system.

Colostrum is essential

Remember when our kids were babies and they were so small and fragile? They nestled in our arms the moment they were born.

Babies don’t have fully-developed immune systems when they’re born. The colostrum from breast milk takes care of providing disease-fighting antibodies for them. As a result, kids who were breastfed and were able to take the colostrum from their mothers are less prone to sickness as they’re growing.

If you had trouble breastfeeding, you may think it’s too late for your child to get a chance at getting that nutritious first meal once they’re grown. Luckily, colostrum isn’t only found in humans. Calves and goats get them too, and supplements are available to help boost your child’s immune system. 

Introduce Green Leafy Veggies

Healthy meals also contribute to boosting your child’s immune system. Green leafy veggies most especially are helpful for your child in several ways.

There’s methylation that comes from sulfur-containing veggies that contribute to the body’s detoxification. There’s a reason why moms feed their kids brussels sprouts and broccoli. These veggies help provide the necessary B-vitamins that aid the process of methylation, which then helps in flushing out harmful toxins from the body.

Make them love the experience of taking healthy veggies by including them in fun meals and smoothies. Incorporate them in meatballs or pasta sauce. Whichever way you can find to add them, do so. This bit of effort will soon pay off when you have a healthy kid running around the house. 

Reduce Antibiotic Intake

Antibiotics are largely prescribed by physicians to help with bacterial infections. But avoid them when you can.

Not only do antibiotics kill bad bacteria in the stomach but they also affect the good bacteria in there too and that spells trouble for the body’s natural immune system. 

Though it shouldn’t be completely avoided as it does help in curing some ailments, making informed decisions about the medicines your child takes can do a lot in keeping their natural immune system strong.

Caring for your child means caring for their health and also their well-being. At The Pillars Christian Learning Center, we emphasize three fundamental pillars of health: a healthy mind, a healthy body, and a healthy faith. Find out more at The Pillars Christian Learning Center.

 

The post 5 Effective Ways to Help Boost your Child’s Immune System appeared first on The Pillars Christian Learning Center.

from The Pillars Christian Learning Center https://ift.tt/3aBtU6Q
via IFTTT

How to Make Traveling with Kids Easy and Stress-free

Do you know what’s fun? For a lot of us, that’s traveling the world, exploring new sights and finding new experiences. But do you know what’s even better? Seeing your child’s face light up in joy with beaming smiles as they take in these new experiences with you.

Traveling with kids can be a hassle when things don’t go as planned. Luckily, times have changed and traveling with kids has become more convenient. 

Thanks to the internet, traveling the world has become more accessible. Planning is as easy as a few clicks of a mouse button. Need to book a flight? Just go to your computer and book them online. Preparing an itinerary? Tour packages have got you covered. Wondering about where to stay? Hotel booking websites have a wide array of rentable spaces to choose from.

From travel blogs, to cheap flights, to affordable accommodation and tour packages, all the information you need is right at your fingertips.

All that’s left is to pack your bags and leave.

Here are a few tips to make traveling with kids easy and stress-free. 

Set a flight plan whenever you’re bringing kids

Stress-free travel begins with a well-executed flight plan. Check in early if you have baggage that needs to be checked to avoid rushing for your flight. Set proper expectations for your children so they know what will happen before and during the trip, from the check-in to boarding, flight safety, and any layovers. 

Flights can also cause drastic change in temperatures so it’s best to layer clothes. Make them as easy and comfortable as possible for your kids. Avoid buttons that can get in the way if they need to get to the restroom. And opt for slip-ons or velcro instead of laces for footwear.

Remember that planes have pressurized cabins. That can cause discomfort in the ears when there’s a change in altitude during takeoff or landing. This can get uncomfortable especially to young kids.

Help your child depressurize their ears by bringing snacks or pacifiers. But the best way to pop their ears? Chewing gum. Give your child some when they’re old enough to chew it without making a mess. 

Prepare for travel safety

Having a family member get lost during the trip can be a nightmare. Take extra precautions when bringing kids on trips. Set up a meeting point when out in the streets or places with lots of people. 

Have them memorize your contact information or keep it close to them at all times. Even give them a printed copy of your travel itinerary that they can keep in their pocket.

Practice scenarios in which they can safely reach out to someone for help. Teach them to identify and seek help from a trusted adult such as a woman with a child, a salesperson with a nametag, or a security guard.

One safe rule of thumb to teach your kids (even at home) is: if you approach a stranger and they appear to be friendly, it’s probably safe to trust them. But if a stranger approaches you and appears to be friendly, it’s best to be wary.

To avoid the uncertainty altogether, look into using a GPS bracelet when traveling. This saves you from the worries of locating your child in case they get lost.

Avoid overpacking

Imagine yourself bringing a huge load of baggage with your kids tagging along and pulling at the hem of your shirt. Sounds miserable? Well it is and this is why you should leave unnecessary stuff at home and avoid overpacking when possible. 

You can get most stuff on the road anyway. Strollers can be rented, baby monitors have an app for it. So try to reduce packing into only the necessities. Pack versatile pieces of clothing that can be paired with other pieces and worn for a variety of different occasions. 

Keep a stash of snacks

Keeping a small pack with essentials and snacks within easy reach on a trip can reduce the hassle of having to go through all your bags searching.

Meltdowns can happen any time. Especially when children are hungry. Bringing some snacks in the essentials backpack will help minimize that.

Always Use the Restroom Before You Leave a Place

Let’s face it, kids have a knack for needing to go to the bathroom when there are no nearby toilets in the area. Make it a habit to head to the restroom whenever one is nearby before you leave a place.

When it comes to traveling with kids, preparation and foresight is key. Following these helpful tips can help you leave the stress at home, and focus on enjoying the trip with your family!

When it comes to a quality preschool education for your child, we’re here to take care of that for you. Here at The Pillars Christian Learning Center, we value the importance of learning essential life skills to set a child on the path to success. Send your little one to a school that fosters holistic growth and development. Give us a call for more information. 

 

The post How to Make Traveling with Kids Easy and Stress-free appeared first on The Pillars Christian Learning Center.

from The Pillars Christian Learning Center https://ift.tt/39Jfa5r
via IFTTT