It’s important to uphold routines and habits to keep children safe and healthy all year round. Staying on schedule with your child’s well visits and immunizations, maintaining healthy sleep habits and getting regular physical activity are all essential for your child’s current and future health. PEBA, the State health plan sponsor, offers some tips to help you make sure your child is healthy today and remains healthy for tomorrow.
Keep scheduled well-child visits and vaccinations.
Protecting your child’s health is always on your mind and taking precautions shouldn’t include missing a doctor’s appointment. It’s important for your child to have well-child visits as recommended.
The pediatrician will conduct a head-to-toe examination, take measurements and track your child’s growth and development, including milestones and social behavior. You will have a chance to bring up any concerns or questions about your child’s health. Your child may also get scheduled vaccinations to prevent serious illnesses like measles, whooping cough and other diseases.
Talk to your pediatrician about how to safely keep on schedule with your child’s well visits and immunizations. You can learn more about well-child benefits on PEBA’s website.
Help your child maintain healthy sleep habits.
Healthy sleep habits are important for children’s overall well-being and development. Getting enough sleep can benefit their immune systems, behavior, memory and mental health. The recommended amount of sleep for children is based on age, and sleep needs can vary by child. Here are some tips to help your child get to sleep at night.
- Maintain a regular daily routine, including set bedtimes and wake-up times at the same time each day, even on weekends.
- Make sure kids are active during the day.
- Establish and maintain a bedtime routine such as taking a bath, brushing teeth and reading a story.
- Avoid large meals and caffeine before bed.
- Remove electronic devices from the bedroom.
Encourage your child to get regular physical activity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Increasing physical activity and decreasing sedentary time help build strong bones and muscles. Activity can reduce the risk of health problems such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Here are some tips to help encourage your child to get regular physical activity.
- Set a good example by being active yourself.
- Participate in physical activity with your child. Play outside, turn on some music and dance, go for a walk or play a game together.
- Make physical activity fun. Encourage your child to try different activities to find enjoyable ones.
- Give your child active toys and games, like jump ropes, balls and bicycles.
Keeping up with these habits and routines today can help set your child up for a healthy tomorrow.