Ways to improve your child's health in the summer - advice from a doctor. What methods exist for improving a child’s health? Holidays at sea

01.05.2024 -

In fact, congenital immune disorders (so-called primary immunodeficiencies) are extremely rare. And they do not manifest themselves as frequent acute respiratory viral infections, but as very severe acute respiratory viral infections with dangerous bacterial complications that are difficult to treat. Congenital immunodeficiency is a deadly condition, and it has nothing to do with a constant runny nose.

A snotty nose and a red throat are not a problem. You need to sound the alarm only if a bacterial infection consistently occurs after an acute respiratory viral infection: complications in the ears, bronchitis... But infections, even severe and complicated ones, are not necessarily associated with immunodeficiency. Frequent diseases can occur due to the structural features of the bronchi, for example. Over the years this gets better. There may be pockets of undetected infection—tonsillitis or banal caries—that “shoot” throughout the body.

Important

Think with your doctor about why your child is often sick.

Perhaps he had an intrauterine infection, such as the herpes virus?

Maybe he has an enlarged thymus gland?

Is it too early to switch your baby from breastfeeding to formula?

Check, perhaps the child suffers from dysbacteriosis, vitamin deficiency, rickets, or helminthic infestation?

Or maybe he suffered a serious illness or a complex operation?

Or has immunity decreased as a result of vaccinations due to poor health?

Depending on the cause of colds, you and your doctor will develop recovery tactics.

Colds must be treated.

Yes, but that doesn't mean giving medicine. This means creating conditions so that the child’s body can quickly and with minimal damage to health cope with the virus. “Treating ARVI,” says children’s doctor, candidate of medical sciences Evgeniy Komarovsky, “means ensuring optimal parameters of temperature and air humidity, dressing warmly, not feeding until asked, actively drinking. Saline drops in the nose and paracetamol for high body temperature are a completely sufficient list of medications. Any active treatment prevents the formation of immunity. Any drug should be used only when it is impossible to do without it. This is especially true for antibacterial therapy, which in most cases is carried out without any real reason - out of fear, out of fear of responsibility, out of doubt about the diagnosis.”

Children get sick because they don't eat well. Children with a cold need increased nutrition, many mothers and grandmothers are convinced.

Dutch scientists conducted a study that found that abstaining from food increases the production of interleukin-4, a substance necessary to resist infections. But eating a lot of food only aggravates the painful condition. Of course, you need to eat well. But during illness it is healthier to eat little.

It is better to replace hot tea with ARVI with cool vitamin juice.

Hot drinks bring quick and significant relief from a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and chills.

Once the child’s fever has subsided and his runny nose has gone away, he can now be taken to school or kindergarten.

Improvement in condition and normalization of temperature do not at all indicate that immunity has been restored. Our child often goes to school or kindergarten literally the next day after the temperature drops. In the children's group, he will probably encounter a new virus - and a new disease will begin.

You can break this vicious circle only if you stay at home for at least another week after illness. And during this time, walk a lot, sleep well and limit contact with people as much as possible, especially indoors.

Children who are often sick should definitely have breakfast. Morning meals increase the production of a strong antiviral component - interferon gamma. This cuts your risk of getting sick in half.

The best way to strengthen your immune system is to drink kefir and yogurt.

30% of immune cells are actually found in the gut. And the influence of beneficial bacteria contained in fermented milk products on the functioning of the immune system has already been scientifically explained and proven. But don’t forget that another 30% of immune cells are in the respiratory system, and another 30% are in the skin. These are our barrier organs, through which we interact with the outside world. So fermented milk products and a healthy intestine are certainly important for the immune system, but they are not the only ones.

In a house where frequently ill children live, there must be sterile cleanliness.

Experiments by scientists have shown that animals that were raised in sterile conditions turned out to be non-viable. The microorganisms that surround us do a lot of useful work: they develop our immunity, improve metabolism, promote digestion, and compete with harmful bacteria that invade from the outside. Therefore, of course, it is necessary to do wet cleaning in the apartment, but you should not be overzealous with the disinfectant solution.

Summer is the most favorable time when it is necessary to use all available opportunities for the health of the child. In summer, children should be outdoors as much as possible.

The diet should contain a sufficient amount of dairy and meat products, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Summer is the most favorable period for replenishing vitamin deficiencies.

For starters, the kids would do well to get plenty of sleep. ! It is known that most children do not get enough sleep by 1-1.5 and sometimes even 2 hours. But childhood neuroses most often develop as a result of systematic lack of sleep.

Keep your child away from the computer as much as possible. or at least reduce its use to hygienically recommended standards (7 minutes - children under 5 years old; 10 minutes - children 6 years old; 15 minutes - primary school students).

On walks you must take mineral, bottled or boiled chilled (but not ice) water with you, which should be drunk in small quantities in small sips, as well as juices or fruits.

When swimming in a river or lake, a child is affected by several environmental factors - air and water temperature, wind, sun. In addition, when bathing, the child actively moves, almost all muscle groups are involved, while the load on the spine and joints is sharply reduced. This type of hardening requires careful supervision by adults.

You can swim in open water from 3-4 years of age, but only after completing a course of preparatory procedures (rubbing, dousing, showering). The air temperature should be 24-25o C, and the water temperature should not be lower than 20o C. The duration of bathing at first is 1-2 minutes, as you get used to it and depending on the child’s reaction - 5-10 minutes. When the first signs of hypothermia appear (“goose bumps”, chills), you should go ashore. It is necessary to choose the right inflatables for small children who cannot swim: it is best to use inflatable vests; in no case should you use a mattress.

Sea bathing has an exceptionally strong effect on a child’s body (the water has a complex chemical composition). Sea air is very beneficial. Swimming in the sea is allowed for children from two years of age. These procedures can be started when the water temperature is not lower than 20o C. During the first baths, the child essentially only takes a dip, being in the water for 20-30 seconds. Gradually, the duration of stay in the water increases for preschoolers to 3-5 minutes, for schoolchildren - to 8-10 minutes. It is necessary to closely monitor the child’s health and his reaction to bathing.

Many children love to play in the sand near the water. From time to time they run into the water themselves. This option is an excellent hardening procedure.

If you are relaxing in a village or country house, let your child run barefoot in the dew in the morning . Short-term exposure to cold water on the feet leads to the fact that the vessels of the feet and at the same time the vessels of the nasopharyngeal region narrow and then sharply expand. As a result, blood circulation in the nasopharynx area increases, creating a reliable barrier to pathogenic bacteria and viruses. In addition, walking on dew is considered to prevent flat feet..

Following these fairly simple recommendations will ensure a safe summer holiday and preserve and strengthen the health of children.

Summer theses: sun, air, water and vitamins

Sun. When sunbathing, it is very important not to overdo it. The smaller the child, the more dangerous it is for him to be in the sun for a long time, because, unlike adults, children do not have their own protection from ultraviolet radiation. The mechanism of a protective reaction to the sun (tanning is that very reaction) will be formed in a child only by the age of three.

Therefore, children who live in the middle zone are not recommended to leave it before this age and go somewhere in the subtropics, that is, to the sea. If your baby is already three years old and you are planning a trip to the sea, then take into account the basic rules of “sun safety”. By the way, one should strive to observe them not only near the sea, but everywhere in the summer.

The child should be in the sun before 11.00 am, and in the evening after 17.00.

Protect your children's delicate skin with a special sunscreen for children with maximum protection.

Buy your child sunglasses. As usual, they are made in a special “children’s” design and children really like them.

Don't forget about your headdress. It is its absence that is the most common cause of heat stroke.

Air. An important rule of summer is that there is never enough air! Of course, it will be very good if it is air outside the city. For example, clean forest air rich in ozone, which gives a huge charge of energy and strength. It will be good if you can send your child to “forest” places for a month: a health camp or a grandmother in the village is the best option for older children.

If the baby is still small, and there is no grandmother in the village, then an alternative (and, by the way, very popular option in recent years) is to rent a dacha in the countryside and spend time there with the child. You yourself will improve your health, and you will “nourish” your baby with the life-giving energy of the earth. And if this option is not available for some reason, then at least plan a trip or two to the forest for the weekend. As a last resort, find a park far from the factory chimneys and walk there more often.

In general, your task is to distract the child from cartoons or computer games and introduce him to nature as much as possible. Moreover, this strategy is a win-win, because right now you are instilling in your child an attitude towards summer. Someday later he will not only say “thank you” to you, but will also become an example for his children.

Water. Look for it everywhere in the summer: the sea, a forest lake or river, even a pool in the country will do. Of course, the sea is always good, but many children are initially afraid of the stormy behavior of the sea and its scale. Therefore, it is best to start accustoming your child to water in a special children’s pool installed, for example, in a country house. At the same time, it is important to observe the temperature regime of the water; for the first swimming in the open air, the optimal temperature is 22 degrees, and the child’s stay in the water is up to 10 minutes.

The next stage is the calm surface of a river or lake. Of course, not a single pool can be compared with natural reservoirs, which are rich in microelements and minerals, and the moist air nearby additionally contributes to healing and strengthening the immune system. Just look for clean places and make sure that the child does not grab river water - he does not need intestinal infections in the summer.

Now that your child is ready to get acquainted with the sea, feel free to go there. However, listen to the recommendations of pediatricians, and they unanimously say that the child adapts to new conditions for at least a week and only then begins to “get healthy and get healthier.” Therefore, it is best to plan a trip for 3-4 weeks - in this case, you will be sure that your child really did not go there in vain.

Vitamins. This is one of the most valuable and affordable gifts of the summer. Fruits and vegetables, which are presented in abundance on the shelves of markets and shops, should not be placed on your table, but must be present in the children's diet. If until now you have allowed your child soda in the summer, replace it with inexpensive and very accessible apple (or any other) freshly squeezed juice. The same goes for snacks: instead of a sandwich - fruit, instead of chips (hot dog, chocolate bar, etc.) - vegetable salad.

Teach your child to eat properly, take vitamins and enjoy it, and you will not only provide him with a disease-free life, but also form healthy habits for the rest of his life. But just make sure that all fruits and vegetables are thoroughly washed - E. coli is, unfortunately, a frequent summer guest.

If you take everything into account and your child spends the summer well, then the best reward will be excellent immunity, high performance and excellent emotions for your child. In addition, he will have something to write about in a school essay on the topic: “How did you spend your summer.”

Experts' opinion on child health in summer

Tatyana Stetsenko, head of the pediatric department for providing medical care to schoolchildren
- It is in the summer that children actively grow in height. Bones, muscles and blood vessels grow, which means the body needs an increased portion of vitamins, which are catalysts for all metabolic processes. Therefore, children’s diet should include fruit or vegetable juices, salads, as well as whole fruits and berries at least three times a day. You cannot reduce the amount of protein foods (meat and fish) at this time. And in no case should we forget about vegetable oil and butter, thanks to which fat-soluble vitamins of group A are absorbed. Also an integral element of children's health is maintaining emotional tone - everything that children do with a positive attitude benefits them. Therefore, even such things as gymnastics, which are not very pleasant for children, should be tried to be turned into a fun game.

Alexandra Danilina, child psychologist
- A big mistake for parents would be to protect their children from active cognitive activity during the summer holidays. The child, of course, should take a break from mental stress. But this means that these loads must be devoted to other issues and be organized in a different form than it was at school. For example, you can devote time to studying the family tree, encourage your child to talk with different family members, learn about childhood and adolescence. It is very important that at this time one of the parents or the older generation in the family becomes a source of information. After all, during school hours the child inevitably distances himself even from his closest relatives.
The process of learning new things is perfectly provided by excursions, master classes and hikes. It is also advisable for parents to take their child to work at least once so that he can see where and what his mother or father does, and understand where the family’s money comes from and how hard it is earned.

Tell us how you keep your kids healthy in the summer?

For many years, we have all been amazed by the sad statistics on the incidence of illness in children of preschool and primary school age. Every third child has deviations in physical development. Now the situation has worsened even further: 50–80% of children have various diseases. There are many reasons for this: economic, social, genetic, and medical. One of them is the lack of attention of adults to the health of their child. We, of course, love our child and diligently treat him when he gets sick. In everyday life, we do not use the entire arsenal of means and methods, based on living conditions and children's activities.

The main cause of most colds in children is the discrepancy between the child’s clothes and shoes and the temperature conditions. This means that it is always necessary to compare the air temperature and the child’s clothing, avoiding both overheating and hypothermia of the body.

Music therapy and smell therapy are very important for the child’s health, as components in creating the background, the environment where the child lives.

· Mode. It has always been and remains the basis for the full physical development of children. It is no coincidence that it has been noticed that on Mondays children come to kindergarten nervous and difficult. Probably because on weekends children move away from their usual routine and live according to the adults’ schedule; they get up late, don’t go out for walks, and go to bed late at night (because of guests). This makes children capricious, because the established stereotype of the child’s body is violated.

· Morning exercises. It’s so good when a family has a tradition of doing morning exercises every day.

· Walk. Physiologists and psychologists have scientifically proven that a child performs 6–13 thousand movements per day. Moreover, it has been noted that if a child makes less than 6 thousand movements, the child experiences discomfort. In conditions of physical inactivity, the baby develops worse and becomes capricious. Motor comfort for a preschooler is best provided in the fresh air. In inclement weather: rain, snowfall, severe frost - children, as a rule, stay at home. Thus, children are deprived of oxygen and communication with peers. In this case,

tracksuit, hat), open the balcony door and actively move and play for 30–40 minutes. And on regular walks, practice hiking and running, as universal means of improving health.

· Outdoor games. It's good when parents and children have their favorite outdoor games. Among which may be “lapta”, “third wheel”, “classics”. A child will definitely play if he sees his father and mother, grandmother and grandfather playing.

· Pantomime. Pantomime plays an important role in ensuring children's motor activity.

· Sport games. Of course, it’s too early to talk about real sports in preschool age, but various types of games with sports elements are quite accessible to children 5-6 years old (and even younger). Children, like food, should have their own sports equipment from an early age. This could be a sled, skis, skates, a rubber circle, a bicycle, badminton rackets or balls, skittles, towns, checkers and chess. Thus, physical culture is a capacious concept. And only through a set of procedures, taking into account the health of children, will we be able to achieve positive results in this primary issue.

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Music therapy and smell therapy are very important for the child’s health, as components in creating the background, the environment where the child lives.

Mode. It has always been and remains the basis for the full physical development of children. It is no coincidence that it has been noticed that on Mondays children come to kindergarten nervous and difficult. Probably because on weekends children move away from their usual routine and live according to the adults’ schedule; they get up late, don’t go out for walks, and go to bed late at night (because of guests). This makes children capricious, because the established stereotype of the child’s body is violated.
Morning exercises.It’s so good when a family has a tradition of doing morning exercises every day.
Walk. Physiologists and psychologists have scientifically proven that a child performs 6–13 thousand movements per day. Moreover, it has been noted that if a child makes less than 6 thousand movements, the child experiences discomfort. In conditions of physical inactivity, the baby develops worse and becomes capricious. Motor comfort for a preschooler is best provided in the fresh air. In inclement weather: rain, snowfall, severe frost - children, as a rule, stay at home. Thus, children are deprived of oxygen and communication with peers. In this case,

Tracksuit, hat), open the balcony door and actively move and play for 30-40 minutes. And on regular walks, practice hiking and running, as universal means of improving health.

Outdoor games. It's good when parents and children have their favorite outdoor games. Among which may be “lapta”, “third wheel”, “classics”. A child will definitely play if he sees his father and mother, grandmother and grandfather playing.

Pantomime. Pantomime plays an important role in ensuring children's motor activity.

Sport games.Of course, it’s too early to talk about real sports in preschool age, but various types of games with sports elements are quite accessible to children 5-6 years old (and even younger). Children, like food, should have their own sports equipment from an early age. This could be a sled, skis, skates, a rubber circle, a bicycle, badminton rackets or balls, skittles, towns, checkers and chess. Thus, physical culture is a capacious concept. And only through a set of procedures, taking into account the health of children, will we be able to achieve positive results in this primary issue.

Some children easily tolerate colds and diseases of another nature, while others do not have time to be cured of one ailment before a new attack arises. This is often due to a weakened immune system, so parents are very concerned about how to make their child healthier. This is one of the most pressing topics, and we will try to analyze it in detail.

First you need to decide whether your baby really needs health improvement. This can be understood by the following signs:

the child often has more viral diseases (more than 4 times a year);
the period of treatment and recovery is long and difficult;
the baby often has fungal infections (given that he could not catch the fungus from the outside);
the child has allergic reactions of various kinds (sneezing, angioedema, dermatitis, etc.);
the baby gets tired quickly during physical activity or a long walk, and is often capricious;
restless sleep with awakenings, difficulty falling asleep;
Intestinal problems (diarrhea or constipation) are common.

If you find at least 2 signs in your child, this means that he needs to be improved. If nothing of the kind is observed, then the actions listed below will still not be superfluous, because there is no such thing as too much health.

Fresh air

Very often you can hear the phrase from pediatricians: “Take your child to the sea.” Why? Because sea air is very beneficial for a child’s body. The air in the mountains is also considered clean, but not all parents can afford to regularly send their children to sanatorium resorts.
The question arises: where can I improve my child’s health in an urban environment? You can find fresh air in a park or forest belt, where you should take your baby whenever possible. Many mothers and fathers even deliberately move from the center of the metropolis to a residential area, where there is more greenery and oxygen. For a frequently ill child, this is simply a lifeline.

Active movement

Today, when the world is filled with computers, children have almost stopped spending time outside. And this has a negative impact on health, because the more the child moves, the better he develops. Of course, you shouldn’t ban your favorite computer toys, but you should try to interest your child in active games outside.
Some people living in the same yard agree among themselves and go out with their children for a walk (or let them go alone) at an agreed time. So, there are several kids on the street at once who always come up with outdoor games. It's more fun together!
This is interesting: According to statistics, when passing a children's medical commission, the healthiest are the children who were born and lived in the village. It is there that two conditions for healing are ideally combined: fresh air and active movement. Moreover, parents do not need to do anything for this.

Proper nutrition

Not all parents cope with this seemingly elementary aspect, buying their children chips and soda strictly prohibited by doctors. There are many other treats that children like no less: yoghurts, juices, cookies, fruits, chocolate.
Second mistake: feeding the child with semi-finished products (cutlets, dumplings, instant noodles). These products not only have no benefits, they are also harmful to children’s delicate stomachs. A child’s diet must include cereals (porridge) and soups, vegetables and fruits.

Mode and frequency

The three listed conditions for a child’s health are simple and understandable, even banal. But, unfortunately, parents often do not follow even these basic rules.

Remember, it is impossible to make a child healthier instantly. This is a gradual process, so the listed aspects require regular adherence. In fact, it is not so difficult: try to go with your child to nature, teach him outdoor games and feed him only healthy food. Over time, all this will become a habit, and you will see how the baby gets stronger and healthier.

Where to start to improve your baby's health

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Proper nutrition is the key to health

Every child should receive both proteins and carbohydrates with fats every day. Protein is the most important “building” element that takes an active part in strengthening the immune system. Protein is found in meat, fish, eggs and nuts. For a baby weighing 20 kg, it is important to get at least 20 grams of protein per day. A child weighing 30 kg should therefore eat 30 grams of protein per day (one gram per kg of the child’s weight).

In addition, it is important to give your child fresh fruits and vegetables every day., give high-quality vitamins in the autumn-winter period and say a firm no to chips, fast food, soda and any other chemicals. To strengthen the immune system, the child should walk at least one hour every day, exercise at least three times a week in any sports section, swim in the pool at least once a week and take air baths (and hardening water procedures) every day if possible.