Today, parents are becoming more conscious of how their children will grow up. They are put into the best schools, after school tutorials, special classes like learning to play a musical instrument or in the arts, swimming classes, judo or karate classes, among others. The parents seem to be after on the intellectual achievements of the child.
This is good for the child’s development and confidence. Beside this, parents are now also more conscious on the health of the child. However, with the fast food industry ruling out this fast-paced and busy lives of parents, health concerns also seem to grow more rapidly.
It is vital for parents and adults who takes care of children to understand that children who practice healthy habits early in life are more likely to grow up doing these healthy habits. A concrete healthy preferences can take them a long way towards a healthier lifestyle bringing them to wellness.
One of the most important but is not taken seriously by some is regular and correct hand washing. It can avoid infections and lessen colds and flu. While it is impossible to keep hands totally germ-free, hand washing is still critical to stay safe from common illnesses.
Hand washing should be done in these instances before preparing food, setting the table, serving food, before eating, after going to the bathroom, after sneezing or coughing into the hands, after handling money, after playing with a pet, after cleaning the house or a room, and after holding an unclean item.
Organisms can enter the body through the mucous membranes. If your hands are dirty and you touch your eyes, nose, and mouth, the organisms can freely enter your body making you ill. Proper hand washing can do you lots of good.
Also, it is important to remind children not to put anything than clean food into their mouths. Some play with pens and pencils. Some bite these items. It is like putting dirty coins into your mouth when you do this. Remind children of how important hand washing is and how important not to put anything into their mouths unless it is food, not to run the eyes with the fingers, and not to pick their noses.
These may sound simple but they are good foundations for a healthier and longer life.
References:
Frazer, J. (2011). Children and Health. ISBN 67590143. Retrieved on January 12, 2016 at http://handwashing_Children_health/infections/pdf.
Gilliard, D. and Gray, H. (2012). Lifetime Health Lessons. Pierre and Pierre Publishing Inc. Retrieved on April 2, 2016.
Madison, O. (2015). Children and Safety. ISBN. 090377689. Retrieved on March 2, 2016.
By: Maria Lourdes M. Cruz | Nurse II | DepEd Bataan
