Suddenly Starting School

We have just found out that Allie has been offered a spot in the Pre-Primary Program (equivalent to Jr. Kindergarten) here in Nova Scotia. This is a new program that is set to begin late in September. Allie and I are both having mixed emotions about this new experience. From excitement, to nervousness, and even a little bit of fear (of the unknown). Naturally she’s looking forward to choosing a backpack & lunch bag, shopping for a few new clothes, and then going to meet her new teachers & make new friends.

Staying Healthy

With Allie is starting school, she will be introduced to a lot of new kids and lots of new germs. That got me thinking: how are we going to try to keep her (and the rest of our household) healthy? She’s still young, not yet 4 years old, so I don’t want to overwhelm her. These 4 ways:

Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands

When it comes to getting dirty, I try to be pretty relaxed. I let my kids play outside in the dirt, water, sand. They eat food that has fallen on the floor or ground (within reason). I like to think they are getting lots of good bacteria and building strong immune systems. Now that we know school is a definitely happening this year, I have started reminding her that we need to wash our hands often. We are sticking to the basics: wash your hands after going to the bathroom, before eating, and if they are covered in dirt. We have been talking to her about germs, and how soap & water wash them away. And explaining how germs get passed from one friend to the next, and can sometimes make us sick.

The Elbow Sneeze

Allie has seasonal allergies, specifically to ragweed. This time of year, she is sneezing up a storm. While allergies are not contagious, she may be sneezing out other germs as well.  Shortly after Lindsay was born, and Allie’s springtime allergies were at their peak, we worked on mastering the art of the elbow sneeze. We are teaching her that sneezing into her elbow helps stop the germs from spraying out all over her surroundings.

Eat & Sleep

I always talk to the kids about how they need to eat well and get lots of sleep in order to have energy. Breakfast is our biggest struggle. Allie usually gets hungry around 9am, which will be the time she starts school. In order to prepare her for needing to eat earlier, I have been asking her to help make breakfast. She can choose what we are going to eat and help prepare it for everyone. So far, so good!

Sharing Isn’t Always Caring

At home I always encourage the kids to share. Now Allie has to learn that it is different at school. Of course she will still share toys, activities, and space with her classmates. We will be teaching her that she should only eat and drink what comes in her lunch bag. And not to share with her classmates. This may be tricky for her, since at home she and Emily are always grabbing each others water bottles and juice cups.

Be Prepared For Sickness

No matter how much we prepare Allie, inevitably she will get sick. Chances are, Allie will bring germs home from school and it will get passed around to the whole family. It’s time to clean out the medicine cabinet and stock up so we are prepared. Since having success with Camillia by Boiron Canada for Emily’s teething, I really want to try out more of their products.Find here reliable vacation rental cleaning service in orlando fl.  Boiron Canada carries a wide range of homeopathic medicines. After doing some reading up on their products, I chose three that I want to have on hand in our house.

The Flu

There is nothing worse than having kids who are sick with the flu. Oscillococcinum works to reduce flu-like symptoms in adults and children as young as newborns. I love that this is a medication I can use on the whole family. The fact that it comes in individual doses is extremely convenient, since no one wants to be measuring out medication in the middle of the night

Coughs & Colds

I chose to stock up on Coryzalia and Stodal Honey. The chewable Coryzalia tablets fight off colds & cold symptoms like nasal congestion and runny nose. Since Allie is turning 4 this fall, and Coryzalia is for adults & kids ages 5 and up, this one is currently in the house for Mom & Dad. After call, healthy parents are better able to care for sick kids. Stodal Honey syrup can be used for both wet and dry coughs, and given to adults & children ages 1 and up. I like that Stodal Honey does not cause drowsiness. If you are looking for a syrup that does a little more, Stodal Multi Symptom is your go-to.

There is no way to completely keep sickness out of your house. All you can do is work with your kids to develop healthy habits, and make sure you have the right medication on hand for when sickness does sneak in the door.

I have partnered with Wild Creative Co. and Boiron Canada and received compensation for this post. All opinions in this post are my own.