Tips for keeping kids healthy outdoors during cold and flu season.
While you’re probably well-versed in tips and tricks for staying healthy and protecting yourself from germs and viruses, kids may need help. Getting plenty of exercise outdoors at the playground and local parks is also important for children, even during the snowy winter months. This may seem like a conflict of interest, so here are some helpful tips to keep in mind.
Watch out for other sick children:
When you’re helping kids get ready for an afternoon on the playground equipment, one of the best things you can do to keep them germ-free is to recognize other sick kids in the group. If there is a boy or girl who is choking on a cough or sneeze, she may want to keep him or her separate from the rest of the children. While this child may not be sick enough to have to stay in bed at home, there is still a chance that she could spread the disease to the other children.
Group everyone:
While winter weather doesn’t cause colds or the flu, it can make children more likely to develop illness. This is because cold temperatures force the body to work harder to stay warm, which means less energy is available for the immune system to fight off viruses and bacteria. To help boost children’s immune capabilities, make sure they wear plenty of warm clothing before heading out to play. Beyond a winter jacket, snow pants, boots, scarves, winter hats, and gloves can keep kids warm and toasty in winter weather.
Provide balanced meals:
Eating right is not only important for maintaining a healthy weight, it’s also vital for keeping your immune system strong. A diet that includes too much sugary junk food like candy, cookies, and sodas can depress and weaken the body’s ability to ward off disease. However, foods rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C-rich citrus fruits, can boost energy levels and immunity to germs. Combined with plenty of rest each night, a beneficial diet can keep children healthy.
Do you know how to keep children safe in cold weather?
It’s no secret that kids love spending time outdoors on plastic playgrounds, even when the weather isn’t ideal. Because of this, it is critical to consider how children dress when they are allowed to use playground equipment in inclement weather. For example, cold temperatures can increase the risk of hypothermia in little ones, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Similarly, rainy weather can lead to health complications when children are allowed to play outside under cloudy skies. Here are some tips on how to make sure people are dressed appropriately for all weather conditions before allowing them to use the playgrounds at your facility.
Look for additional layers:
Extra layers of clothing above and below the waist are essential for outdoor play, especially during the winter, according to the Appalachian Mountain Club. Ideally, boys should wear an undershirt or fleece under their coat. Likewise, long johns can be worn under waterproof pants to provide extra warmth for little ones as they run around the playground.
Keep extremities protected:
Some of the most vulnerable areas of the body are the bands and the feet. To keep them safe, children should wear thick gloves and socks while playing outside. Also, hats and scarves may be needed to keep them comfortable and protected from the elements. These items may feel a bit restrictive for children who want freedom while using the grab bars or slide, but are necessary for safety while spending an extended period of time outdoors. Consider recommending pieces like gloves instead of mittens to make clothing more comfortable to wear.
Opt for waterproofing at all costs:
Ideally, waterproof clothing should be worn to prevent children from absorbing moisture from outside and getting cold. If a child doesn’t have the right waterproof shoes, coats or gloves, it’s critical to remove their clothing once it gets wet, according to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Doing so can help little ones maintain their body temperature and potentially prevent complications like hypothermia.
Tips to keep your children fit during the winter.
With cold temperatures and snow on the ground, it’s nearly impossible to get kids out to playgrounds or open fields to play in some areas. However, it remains imperative that parents keep their children healthy during the winter, especially when it’s so easy to sit more and move less. Here are some ways to stay active during the winter months.
Build a snowman:
Heading outside to build a big snowman is not only a fun activity for families, it can also be a great way to stay fit. Pushing and rolling snowballs across the floor gets your heart rate up and acts as a moderate form of cardiovascular activity. It is hard work moving the snow and lifting the finished mounds on top of each other.
Help with shoveling:
There is always a feeling of dread when it comes to paddling. It is a task that few want to participate in, but it can be an incredible physical activity for children. They don’t have to specifically help you shovel the driveway. You can assign them smaller jobs, like clearing a path to the front door or mailbox. Better yet, have them shovel a design or pattern in the snow that they can then look at and be proud of.
Move inside:
It can be appealing to just sit back and relax when your family is stuck indoors, especially when the kids are on vacation and the school playgrounds are closed. Instead of reaching for the TV remote, opt for the iPod stereo or whatever speakers you have. Make your children dance to the rhythm of the music. You can also play the music while doing housework to keep the kids excited. They’ll have so much fun they won’t even realize they’re doing chores.
Look around the community:
Residential playgrounds may be closed for the season, but that doesn’t mean your community lacks other physical activity resources to keep your kids fit. Sometimes local rec centers will have open gym sessions where kids can run around and play basketball. There may also be an ice skating rink or bowling alley nearby that the whole family can go and enjoy. Not only does it keep the kids moving, it also brings the family together.
Winter doesn’t have to become a time of year where kids shut down and hibernate until the snow melts in spring. Take them outside and get them physically active. Think of new and creative ways to keep your kids fit and excited; you may also be infected.