With school starting next week in Augusta and many of the surrounding communities, most kids have had their wellness checks, are caught up on their immunizations, and have been given a clean bill of health to start school.  As kids enter classrooms with their summer vacation stories, books, crayons, and lunch boxes, they also will be bringing something with them unseen: their germs.  How can parents help keep their kids out of the doctor's office after the opening school bell rings?  Here are a few tips to keep your kids healthy.

First and foremost, make sure your kids are well nourished.  There is almost nothing better than lots of fruits and vegetables in their diet to assure their immune system is in top shape.  Avoid a bunch of fatty and sugary foods.   A multivitamin is a good idea as a supplement, especially if your kids have a tough time eating their fruits and veggies.  Some parents will take it a step further and give their kids what I like to call "super-fruit juice" concentrates that contain lesser known fruits such as elderberry juice and acai berry.  Elderberry juice concentrate and Mona Vie are some examples that are available at Cooper Drug Store.  These products and super charged full of antioxidants and immune supporting nutrients that are generally safe for children.  Probiotics are another good idea to keep your kids' "good" bacteria at a healthy level.  Kids can get probiotics from yogurt though they are also available in capsule form.

Other than nutrition, sleep is very important in keeping the immune system strong.  Make sure your kids get a full night's sleep and if appropriate an afternoon nap as well.  Finally, it is always a must to practice good hygiene habits such as washing hands regularly, sneezing into a tissue, and keeping fingers and hands out of mouths and noses.  As a parent with three boys ages five, two, and three months, I know how difficult it is to continually try to break  bad habits and reinforce good hygiene habits with your kids.

I hope your kids have a safe, healthy, and FUN school year!  Hopefully you will not need to come see us at Cooper Drug because of a sick child soon, but if you do, we will be stocked up on our antibiotics and cough medicine just in case!