12 ways to keep kids healthy during the germ season

India is blessed with 4 seasons out of which monsoon is the most important season. Generally, we have monsoon in the first week of June. But this year we have witnessed the monsoon “above normal”

 

What is the Germ Season?

For me especially monsoon and winter are the germ season. Not only kids but we adults to get suffered from this monsoon/winter germ. I am not taking these seasons lightly because once your kid gets infected it will be more irritating to us. Sometimes other family members get infected because of them. They used to have ruuny nose, cough, rashes on the nose and it gets converted into a fever. Pediatric hospitals are flooded with sick kids and we moms tend to search more on Google for a solution, right?

 

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Being a mom for the past 8 years I discovered some tips and picked up some tips from my mother and with fellow moms on how to keep kids healthy during the germ season.  

12 ways to keep kids healthy during this germ season:    

Drink Warm Water:

As soon as monsoon start we face water problems. The government also guides to have boiling water throughout the monsoon. We used to have boiled water and keep it warm to drink. It helps to maintain body temperature and is helpful for the sour throat.

Wash Hands Frequently:

Due to corona we used to wash hands with sanitizers. But when we are inside the house I always insist my family wash hands with hand wash soap by rubbing at least 20 minutes. You all are aware of excessive use of sanitizers which makes our skin dry. Water and handwash (get this mild handwash)are the best ones, try to use mild ones which have fewer chemicals. 

PS: Pixel

Drink Turmeric Milk before bedtime:

This is one of the ancient rituals which we follow since our childhood. Let me admit I don’t like milk at all since my childhood. But now I have to drink turmeric milk especially having cough and cold. Kids are observers and so I have to drink 😇. As a mother, I always make sure that my child must have this turmeric milk every night at bedtime.

PS:eMediHealth

It actually, help to fight germs. Besides, it has great benefits and no wonder nowadays it is being sold as turmeric shots due to covid, right? 

Turmeric Shots Amazon

PS: Pixel

Sleep

It is the most important thing for all of us including kids. School going kids should have 10 to 12 hours undisturbed sleep. But due to pandemics, the whole schedule is still disturbed and kids tend to sleep after 12.00 am. There is a need for rest to have a healthy body. Make a proper sleep routine and stick to it is very important. I strongly believe and witness that Sleep actually helps to boost the immune system.  

Keeping hot zones dust free:

During the monsoon our floor used to become sticky and houseflies tend to enter the house. Make sure hot zones like dining table, TV unit, Kids play area should be always dust free and wipe regularly.

Sweep the floor at least 3 to 4  times a day and mop the floor once or twice. Use rock salt, dettol, and phenyl for mopping. A strong smell of phenol keeps the floor fly free because this fly brings lots of germs.

Ajwin Potali

We all Indian mom must follow this since our baby is born. I am still using this as it always works for congestion nose. Dry roast ajwain on a pan and tie in a handkerchief and make a small potali.  Put that warm potali on the nose and chest as it will give out the relief from cough.

No sharing Utensils/ Towels:

Though we are living in one house we used to have separate utensils like a cup, snacks plates, dinner plates, glass, etc. It is hygienic to have a habit that kids will not share anyone’s utensils and towels. I strongly followed this. Do you follow the same?

Teach kids to use a hanky to cough or sneeze:

I saw many kids are unable to have this habit. We should make sure that even kids are at home and if they have a runny nose, have them a handkerchief. Ask them to sneeze or cough using a handkerchief. This will keep their clothes clean and they will develop the habit to have a handkerchief with them always.

Diffuser with camphor oils:

We all know very well about the properties of camphor. Instead of using essential oils use camphor or camphor oil. I am using this in every rainy season. It prevents fly, germs inside the house and it also helps in congestion of cough.

PS: Pixel

Drink warm soup:

Does your family love soup? Once the rainy season started we indulged in a variety of homemade soup. Chicken or Mutton soup is one of our family's favorite. Try to have this soup especially if your child is infected and has a sour throat. Check out the recipe for chicken soup. 

Change Clothes at least twice in a day.

Everyone is inside the house but still, change your kid's cloth at least twice a day.  Dust, sweat, and dirt while playing inside the house welcome germs. Built a habit in a kid to clean themselves and change their clothes after playing and before bedtime.

Have a healthy balanced diet.

Last but the top most important way to keep our kids healthy is to have a balanced diet. It should include all homemade breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. Avoid having packaged and junk food. We need to avoid order food on ZOMATTO or SWIGGY. Having a healthy and balanced diet including fresh fruits is an immunity booster. No more chocolate, cakes, chips, corn flex, pizza, and burger. Have whole wheat cake and pizza. Just search on YOUTUBE and you will get tons of easy recipes. Involve your kids in this home baking process they will enjoy most.

 

There are many ways we generally used to keep our kids healthy during germ season. I sorted out the basics.  I would like to know from your ends too. I know every super mom has special tips.  

Please share your tips on how you keep your kids healthy during the germ season.

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information Reference : www.healthline.com

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla and sponsored by Bakez by Daizy.

©Neeta Kadam. This article and image are the property of Memory Flies. Any unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited.

5 Tips for smooth online learning

Online education is normalized with lots of pros and cons. As far as possible we would concentrate only on one thing that children education is going on. No matter whether it is serving any purpose or beneficial to them, that is another debating topic. 😐

PS: Pixel.com

Currently, we are doing "HOMESCHOOLING" though it is provided by schools practically we are using our home, our electricity, our equipment, our books, and stationery and every small or big thing related to the study [ in short "TEACHERS JOB" right? ]

And of course, we are paying huge fees to the school,😈 Irony of 2021 education systems.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY HOMESCHOOLING?

Homeschooling is based on home education with parents' guidance without enrolling your child in any school. Basically, parents are the teacher and they choose the syllabus and teach their child in a home environment. 

Though it is practiced in India still it does not have any regulatory bodies to govern homeschooling.

But currently due to pandemics we have an online education system where still school is doing everything but on the front note, we parents have to pay attention as the whole responsibility is on parent's shoulders.

This is the second year of online schooling and I observe most of the schools are attending by parents and not by the student 😅  On the contrary there are some students who are not at all supervised by parents and they are tend to be a monster who loves to disturb the whole class and irritate the teacher.

Types of Parents in online schooling.

1. Over Protecting Parents:  

These kinds of parents are over protecting their children. They want to have updated information always. They take care of everything whatever their child has to complete. I think instead of a child they are the ones who are completing homework, assignments, even test papers for the child.

2. Doubtful Parents : 

This kind of parent always has doubts in every lecture. First, they are not allowing their child to speak. Second, they do not have proper listening power. Though the teacher provides detailed information they still need to ask a doubt. The most irritating part is they are the ones who disturb the whole class.

3. Punctual Parents :

These are the parents who have completed every assignment on time. Means I am just wondering how can they? This year teachers are completing 2 lessons in one 45 minute lecture and sending ppt notes in a google classroom. This Punctual parents used to complete the notes within one day or sometime in half-day,😟 whereas our child takes a week to complete the notes. 

I really want to ask them, why the hell you are doing this work on behalf of your child? why?

4. Prompting Parents :

This kind of parent always sits with the child and is ready to prompt him. Whenever a teacher ask any question they are ready to help their child, irrrr, not help, even they do not give time to a child to think on his own and instead of that they are prompting behind. Seriously is this needed? 

5. Scholars Parents :

These kinds of parents are the ones who love to write papers on behalf of their children. Yes, they are the ones who think their child is not able to write with the speed and so they are helping the child. They almost try to write the paper too on behalf of a child.

As responsible parents, we have to sit with our kids to help them if they need any kind of help. Today's generation's kids don't require our help. In fact, they are very well versed with the technology.  But my request to the parents is please don't do everything for your kids. Let them handle it on their own. Otherwise, they are not going to learn anything neither practical life skills nor educational skills.  You will be surprised to see that still, 50% of 2nd or 3rd graders students are unable to read. 

5 Tips to every parent for an online school- especially for primary students :

I am also a parent and I also found it difficult for last year to cope up with this kind of schooling. but this year we are used to it. Our kids are smarter than us and they are experts in handling equipment and even teachers too. 😀 

If you think your child should really learn something from school then please stop interfering with their school times. Here are the 5 simple tips I would like to give to primary student's parents during online lectures.

1. Have faith in your child: 

This is one of the most important things especially if you have a primary student. Just have faith, he is good. He will be doing good and he will handle it on his own. Just sit beside him and help if require and if he asks.

This gives confidence to your child.

2. Do not prompt or readout for your child:

Yes, though if other students are reading fluently, have faith in your child. Let give him the freedom to speak or read on his own. If you stop prompting or reading for them, then only you will come to know what is your child lacking. You can help him after the school is over. And you never know might be your child can read fluently too. Just sit beside and observe. 

3.Do not ask any doubt on your own.

If your child has any doubt let him ask the teacher. Do not become a bridge between him and the teacher. He can talk with his teacher without a fear then only he can develop a bond with his teacher. Do not ask any doubts on behalf of your child. Let him decide what kind of doubts he has and let him ask by himself.

4. Make a schedule:

During the online lecture, I hear some parents are shouting at their kids for not having pencils and books. Please maintain a schedule of everything. Ask them to keep ready books as per the timetable, notebooks, and stationery 10 minutes before the school start. Do login on time. Charge your laptop and mobile beforehand so that there will be no delay for school.  If you ask your child to follow these tiny things they will automatically become more discipline.

5. Do not disturb the class :

Every teacher gives the last 5 to 10 minutes for a doubt session. This is for both parents and students. If there is any big issue you can ask in that time only.  Allow your child to ask any doubts to the teacher.

These are the basic tips that parents should follow. 

PS : Pixel.com 

-Leave your child alone and let him handle it on his own. 

-Do not be a protecting cover of him.

-This is the way you can instill confidence in your child. 

What kind of tips you would like to give. Comment below your suggestions. 

Till then,

Happy Parenting.

Neeta Kadam

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla and sponsored by Bakez by Daizy.

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©Neeta Kadam. This article and image are the property of Memory Flies. Any unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited.