Healthy Mind Lives In A Healthy Body!
Most of the time this proverb is applied for adults, but it is of equal importance for children and of utmost importance in children of growing age. The health condition of the child largely affects the growing mind. The parents can keep a close watch on their kid’s health hygiene.
Prevention is better than cure.
Friends, most of us have heard this saying but only a few must have inculcated such a habit within ourselves. We all find it much easier to increase our doctor’s bills instead of incorporating some basic preventive measures. If done right, we can almost cut off our visits to the doctor. A child is very vulnerable to environmental infections and repeated admissions to the hospital can not only lower his/her immunity but also impair normal child growth and development. Therefore it is the duty of the parents to prevent them from procuring such infections.
Basic hand and mouth hygiene is one of the most important preventive measure and the best way to avoid the deadliest of the diseases. Infants and toddlers are prone to consume non-edible items while playing on the ground. Toys with which your child plays contain lead which is a toxic element. If consumed on a regular basis, it can lead to lead poisoning which causes psychological effects on a child’s health.
Other sources of lead in your homes is lead-based paint, old lead pipes or faucets. It is also found in environmental soil which is found near busy streets, therefore, it is very important on parents side to keep a careful watch on where your child is playing. Infants are at greatest risk for health problems from lead poisoning because their smaller, growing bodies make them more susceptible to absorbing and retaining lead.
There are a wide range of symptoms, from headaches and stomach pain to behavioral problems and anaemia.
But the good news is you can protect your child from lead poisoning. Find out the potential lead sources in environment. Ensure that your home is lead-free and keep watch on your kids particularly if they are between 6 months and 3 years old. Kids at this age spend a lot of time on the floor and try to put things in their mouths. And after all, the most important measure is to wash your kids’ hands and toys often. Make sure to clean his hands and mouth too before eating food.
Once they grow old, teach your children how to wash hands. Give them a practical on how they must wash their hands thoroughly, and not just wet them under water.
Research has proven that washing of hands frequently can decrease deaths associated with diarrhoea by almost 50%.
Doctor recommended steps of hand washing:
Inculcate the habit of washing hands in your child before touching or eating food and after:
- Using the toilet
- Being outside, playing in sand
- Cleaning their nose, sneezing or coughing
- Touching pet animals.
Hand washing is a simple activity that takes just a few seconds of your time. But is highly effective way to keep germs and infections away.
Therefore inculcate this habit in your kid at a very early age to prevent him from any disease and to keep him healthy, cheerful and playful.
