Falling sick can be a real downer for any child, and it can play spoilsport with their mood. But there is no reason for a child to hang around listlessly like it’s the end of the world. There are quite a few things you can do as a parent to make your child’s and your own life easier when he or she falls ill. Let’s look at five good parenting tips for when your child is sick.
#1 Make Some Lemon Honey Tea
This will soothe your child’s sore throat and mellow his or her stomach if it is acting up. Plus it tastes great! The Indian medical system of Ayurveda prescribes Ayurveda for many childhood illnesses. One of the benefits of honey is that it will also balance out blood pressure in case of such ill effects.
#2 Get Them a Book to Read
Remember that story you always wanted your child to read? Now is when you should get them to pick it up. The folks at Sussex University have found that reading actually reduces stress levels and improves mood. If your child is quite young, then is a great excuse, if you needed any, to sit with them and read along.
#3 Play Them Some Soothing Music
Soothing music can do wonders for one’s physiology and psychology. Listening to classical music can be especially beneficial, and has been shown to have a number of benefits, including better sleep quality and faster stress-recovery, in children and adults as well. Studies have shown that Indian classical music, an integral part of Indian culture, is especially good at calming and relaxing children.
#4 Avoid Giving Them Sugar
It is best to avoid giving your kids sugar, at any time, even when they aren’t sick. Sugar can affect your body in many negative ways. The sugar that is commonly sold in markets nowadays is processed heavily and can lead to diabetes and nutritional deficiencies, according to studies by the United States National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.
What’s the alternative?Honey again! As already noted, it’s good for the body’s blood pressure. It also has positive effects on brain development. However, do note that honey should not be given to infants under the age of one.
#5 Avoid Soda
Your child may want a treat but avoid sodas at any cost. They create dental problems, are bad for the bones and are full of sugar, which comes with all the above mentioned problems. If that isn’t scary enough, there studies that have drawn connections between soda consumption and kidney damage, stroke-risk and hypertension.
What’s the alternative? Stick to water.
