The start of school usually brings hurried shopping trips to purchase needed school supplies and new outfits.  It also has generated lots of blogs and columns with advice about school anxieties.  But another big issue that arrives with the start of school is the increase of colds, sore throats, pink eye and other infectious diseases that sometimes run rampant through classrooms.

How can we help keep our children as healthy as possible?  Here are several simple tips:

1. Provide your child with healthful balanced meals and snacks.
2. Encourage your child to wash his hands frequently (or wash them for him if he is too young).
3. Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep – older children with cell phones, TV’s and computers in their own rooms can often stay up half the night while their parents think they are sleeping.
4. If your child does get sick, please keep her home, even though this may be inconvenient (if you work) or she begs to go because she will “miss” something.  You will be doing your child no favors if you send her when she is ill, and the teacher and the other children will not be exposed to whatever she has – also, if she is sick, her resisitance will be lowered and she might catch something even worse from another child.

It is definitely difficult to keep preschoolers doing quiet activities indoors when they are sick, especially when they start to feel a little better.  We always had a special box which contained small toys and games, stickers, small boxes of crayons, small pads of paper – all brightly wrapped and beribboned.   When all else failed, out came the box and the sick child was able to choose something from the box.  The eager anticipation while unwrapping the package was beautifully distracting – make sure there is lots of wrapping and ribbon on each.  We also had a special, ornate spoon which was the medicine dispensing spoon.

Need some quiet activities to help pass the time?  My new book contains several picture story suggestions, with related craft and cooking projects, that focus on sick children.  Here is one of them.

For a story to help your young child feel he is not the only one who doesn’t like being sick – read JOHNNY LION’S BAD DAY by Edith Hurd. 

Then make paper plate lions: You will need: 1 paper plate, 1 piece of brown or yellow construction paper, markers or crayons, paste and scissors.

• Cut the paper into one-inch wide strips and roll each strip around a marker or crayon to create the curl.
• Paste one end of one strip to the edge of the plate.  Continue with the rest of the strips all around the edge of the plate to form the lion’s mane.
• Using markers or crayons, draw the lion’s features.

For a yummy, healthful, child-friendly alphabet chicken soup (studies have shown it really DOES help make you feel better):  You will need: 1 quart chicken broth, 2 Tb diced onion, 1/4 cup alphabet noodles, 1 cup diced cooked chicken, 1/2 cup sliced carrots, 1/2 cup cut green beans, 1/4 cup corn kernels, fresh parsley (optional), and a large pot with a cover.

1. In a large pot, mix broth, onion and noodles and bring to a boil.
2. Lower the heat to simmer and add the chicken, carrots, beans and corn.  Simmer with the cover on for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Garnish each serving with parsley, if you like.
4. Makes about 4 to 5 cups of soup – refrigerate or freeze what you don’t use.
5. You can substitute other vegetables if you like – peas, lima beans, zucchini – use your imagination!