By Leslie Lindsay

This is a crazy time of year for everyone–teachers included.  What can you do to help ease the headache for your child’s classroom teacher?

Well, for starters make sure your child is healthy.  This time of year kiddos start getting sick–whether it’s due to the excitement of the holidays, the junky food they may be consuming, the increased indoor time, or just germ-y hands.  Teachers still need kids to be present and available for learning, right up to the holiday break.

What’s a Parent to do?! 

• Amp up reminders about hand washing.  Especially important when your little sweetie gets home from school, sports, after-school activities, scouts, and other activities.
• Keep alcohol-free hand-sanitizer handy, or consider sending some to your kids’ school. 
• Allow your child to keep their own little pack of Kleenex in their coat or backpack.  It’s cool to have their own–and they are more likely to use it, rather than say their sleeve.
• Remind your child not to put items–other than food and drink–into her mouth.  I know it sounds like a no-brainer, but kids forget.  And there are plenty of germs living on everything.
• Likewise, try to reduce the nose picking and nail biting.  (I have one of each in my family…ech!)
• Keep giving your kids plently of water, vitamins, and fresh fruit.  Consider a supplemental vitamin C.  It just may help ward off a cold.
• Pay attention to school websites and newsletteres for alerts about the flu and other contagious illness outbreaks.
• You may consider getting your family vaccinated against the flu, if you haven’t already.  Flu season is Novemeber thru March.
• If your child’s teacher calls home with concerns about your child not paying attention in class, listen.  It may just be holiday excitement but it could be something more.  At this point in the school year, kiddos are getting much more comfortable in the classroom environoment and they may be exhinbiting signs of AD/HD.  It’s worth checking out with your pediatrician, especially if the teacher is concerned.  AD/HD is a common childhood disorder.

Class dismissed!