Tips for helping to keep your family cold and flu free...

Fall is most definitely blowing it's way through our hometown. This means it is the time of year when our children and families are most susceptible to coming down with the flu or a cold. I can not tell you how important it is to teach our children (and sometimes our hubby's) to follow a few simple steps to keep ourselves germ free so that we can enjoy the season!

Here are a few of my personal tips and tricks:

1. Make sure you teach your children to cover their coughs and sneezes. While covering your mouth and nose with your hands will suffice, it is best to teach them to use the inside of their elbows. This way they won't be temped to use their hands afterwards, spreading more germs!

2. Wash wash wash! I really drill my kids about the importance of hand washing! They are encouraged to wash before and after every meal at home and at school. As well as after playing on the playground at recess. 

They have a step stool in their bathroom giving them the freedom to wash on their own!

3. Put a small package of tissue in your child's backpack. Last year I dropped into my sons classroom to only see they had run out of tissue. Their only option was paper towels. Most kids chose their hands and shirts instead, ewwww!

4. Ask your child's teacher if it is acceptable to send a small bottle of hand sanitizer to school. You can even donate a HUGE bottle, ensuring the children all have the chance to use it. I like to keep it in my purse, the car, and next to the sink!

5. If you are comfortable with the idea, you can have your family receive the flu shot. 

6. Teach your children that while it is always nice to share with your friends, germs are something we want to keep to ourselves. This means no sharing drinks, chapstick, etc. 

7. Give your child a multi-vitamin everyday. 

8. As a Mommy, I also take precautions around the house! I constantly wipe down the counters, tables, and toys. Light switch's and door knobs are also places germs love to hang out. Take the time to wipe them off, or give them a daily spray with Lysol (one of my favorite products)!

There really isn't anything I wouldn't do in order to keep my kids cold and flu free. My son suffers from asthma, and something that starts as simple a small cough can really escalate to him being very sick, very fast! I hope you have found my tips and tricks helpful. Of course I would love for you to leave me a comment with anything else you can think of. 

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Lysol blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here

My experiences of playing outdoors with my family!

Playing outdoors is such a great way to connect with your family. There are so many different activities that you can take part in. On September 24th 2011 parents and kids are being encouraged to turn off their tv's and get outside! The Wordwide Day of play is the centerpiece of Nickelodeon's The Big Help. It is a program that empowers families to live a healthier lifestyle everyday. It is so important as parents to teach our children that they need to have limited tv time and more physical activity. There is no better way to teach them than to take part in it yourself!

Some of the ways I love to incorporate outdoor activities into the daily routine for my family is to come up with creative ways to get the kids moving. We love to make our own obstacle courses in the backyard, or run around  in the sprinklers in the summer. My children also love to do the typical outdoor activities such as riding their bikes and scooters, so to keep them engaged, I like to switch things up for them and set up bike or scooter races! When parents take the time to really play an active role in the daily outdoor activities and play with their children, everyone benefits, and it will create a healthier lifestyle for everyone! 

I have had some many great experiences with my family and made so many great memories playing outdoors with them. Even going on a simple walk with your family can make such a huge difference in your lives. I would love to know that every parent is really making a great effort to get their families, especially their children involved in the Wordwide Day Of Play! With Nickelodeon's The Big Help as the foundation for the program, I think it will be pretty easy to convince my kids that it is the right, and fun thing to do! After all they do think Nickelodeon is much cooler than mommy and daddy, so I will absolutely be using it to my advantage, shhh don't tell the kids!

Clorox2 is the very proud sponsor of Nickelodeon's 8th Annual Worldwide Day Of Play, and they want you...yes you, to turn off your tv and head over here http://clorox2play2day.com to take the pledge! I will be taking the pledge for my family and I hope you will be to! So, what are you waiting for? 

Disclosure: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Clorox2® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

One Little Mom's "Top 10 healthy tips to get your kids ready for back-to-school."

It is the time of year that most kids do not look forward to, yes I am talking about Back-To-School! After being away from school for such a long amount of time most kiddos need a little help getting back into the swing of things. Here are One Little Mom's Top 10 Healthy Tips To Get Your Kids Ready For Back-To-School...

*1. Help them to re-establish an earlier bedtime. During the summer most kids are allowed to stay up past their normal bedtime. This usually tends to throw them off schedule. Starting a few weeks before they return to school try and have them start their bedtime routine 30 minutes earlier.

*2. If it is your child's first year in school it is a good idea to take them on a tour of the school before hand. Just to get them familiar with their surroundings. Even walking around the outside of the school and pointing out different parts of the school will help them feel more secure when they arrive. This will help with any anxiety they have. My son suffered from anxiety entering his kindergarten year. Poor guy had horrible stomach aches from it. Anxiety often does have a physical effect even on the little ones.

*3. Make sure you go see your child's primary doctor for a check up. Most schools require a check up and most of the time some type of vaccination before starting school.

*4. Take your child to get their eyes examined. My son was suffering from headaches last year during school. I felt horrible not having known for so long. We took him to get checked and he was having some issues with his eyesight. Nothing that required glasses (thank goodness) but it is better to be safe than sorry.

*5. Get together with friends or old classmates for a play date before the school year starts. This will help your child make a few close friends before he/she starts school. It will help them have a sense of security knowing they have a friend they can turn to. It is always great to keep the kids active during summer so they have enough energy to take on their new schedules.

*6. Talk to your child about healthy eating options. Lots of schools have vending machines that offer things like soda that I would personally not want my kids choosing while at school.

*7. Tell your child the importance of not sharing "everything" with their friends. I make sure my kids know they should never share a drink, chapstick, hats, or tissues. Sharing with your friends is nice...just don't let them share germs!

*8. Start waking your child up earlier. This is a hard one for me because during the summer my kids want to sleep in until 8 or 9 and I really want to let them (I could use the extra sleep myself ) but a couple of weeks before going back to school they should get used to waking up at an earlier time. This will also help them to fall asleep sooner. Set an alarm clock for them if you need to.

*9. Wash wash wash. Make sure your child is washing their hand before and after eating, and after being on the playground. Have them practice at home as well so it really sticks with them.

*10. Make sure your child eats breakfast. My son is not the biggest fan of breakfast but I make sure he at least has a piece of fruit before school. It is after all the most important meal of the day!

I can't wait to see what the new school year brings for my son. I am looking forward to watching him grow and being there for him along the way! Do you have any healthy tips for helping your child get ready for back-to-school? I would love for you to leave a comment and share them with me.

Wising you and your children a happy and healthy back-to-school experience...

Disclosure: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Transitions Lenses blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”