Children are the biggest blessing that life can give you but can also be very demanding to take care of. Not only do you have to manage their schedule, but you also must manage their healthcare and give them the skills they will need to live a longer and healthier life.

Keeping your kids healthy is not hard if you have a plan in place and a few basic rules to stick to. Here is an easy-to-follow checklist to help you keep your kids healthy and help them to live a long and happy life.

Maintain Their Dental Health

The teeth are an essential part of the body. When people think of dental health, they often make the mistake of thinking about the appearance of the teeth, but oral health can affect other parts of the body.

By teaching children to brush and clean their teeth properly, you are putting them on the right track, but you should not stop there. Straight teeth are easier to clean and help to keep gums healthy. Long-term gum disease has been linked to heart problems later in life. 

You can protect your children’s future by finding ways to straighten teeth, and at ALIGNERCO there are many options available, including clear aligners for kids.

Teach Them Healthy Food Choices

The best way to keep your kids fit and healthy, and to teach them skills that will keep them healthy into old age, is to help them learn about healthy food choices. 

Bad food leads to bad health, and though a little treat here and there is acceptable, you cannot let them rely on snacks and junk food for nutrition. Young children love to learn about where food comes from, and how food is grown and harvested. This can help lead to discussions about the importance of fresh food, and how different processed and packaged foods are from fruit, vegetables, and raw meat.

This can also be a fantastic way to introduce your children, whatever their age, to cooking. Being able to prepare and cook food themselves is an important life skill that many people leave their family home without. Do not let any of your kids be one of them.

Plan For Emergencies

Kids get in accidents all the time. Most people have a story about a fractured ankle or a broken arm from their youth. When it happens, it can be terrifying for parents and for children.

You have a responsibility to manage your child’s healthcare and ensure that are covered by a health insurance plan if possible. With or without adequate health insurance, you need to know what you are going to do in an emergency. 

If you co-parent in a two-parent household you should discuss this together, and plan for aftercare if your child does spend time in the hospital. They may need to be looked after at home and monitored after a hospital stay. Establish who will stay at home and take the role of primary care giver.

Visit The Doctor’s Office Early

When a child gets sick parents usually go to one of two extremes; they panic or brush it off. Neither is the correct response. 

Children are more likely to pick up viruses and bacterial infections than most adults, as their immune system is still developing. Though they may have mild symptoms at the beginning, and may even seem like they are trying to get some extra attention, childhood sicknesses can get worse quickly. Do not take any risks and see your family doctor early on if you can.

Doing this also keeps your doctor up to date on the general health and wellbeing of your child. If your child is suffering from regular illness but your doctor does not know, they may not be able to spot signs of more serious illnesses or allergies that need to be treated. 

Work With Other Caregivers

Your child will be in the care of many other people throughout their daily life. Teachers, sports coaches, family friends, and other parents all play a role in your child’s healthcare.

If your child has allergies or specific health needs, this is especially important. Other caregivers need to know about your child’s health to keep them safe when you are not around. Include them in your emergency plans, and make sure they know who to contact if an accident happens. 

Many schools and children’s social clubs will ask for your child’s medical information, details of their family doctor, and emergency contact numbers so be prepared.

With some planning and preparation keeping kids healthy is not so hard. The best way is with food. Fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, and fish are the best way to keep the doctor away. By teaching kids healthy eating habits and how to make healthy food choices you are protecting their health for life, not just their childhood.