HELPING to boost your child’s immune system is just as important as getting them physically prepared for school.

As they return to the classroom next month, owner and founder of the Harvest, Catherine Clark, shares four ways to prepare their bodies to fight bacteria and viruses.

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1. Encourage adequate sleep time
Sleep is one of the most important supporters of the immune system. Many studies show that sleep deprivation increases susceptibility to infection in children. The Sleep Foundation recommends that children aged 3 to 5 years get 10 to 14 hours of sleep, and those aged 6 to 13 years get 9 to 11 hours of sleep.

2. Maintain hygiene
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), washing hands prevents illnesses and the spread of infections to others. Experts also recommend regular hand washing because it helps prevent 30% of diarrhoea-related illnesses, and 20% respiratory infections. Encourage your children to not only sanitise regularly, but also to wash their hands often (and not only when they are visibly dirty!). It’s also important to clean their toys and high-touch surfaces often, to limit the transfer of germs.

3. Make movement a part of play
Research shows that prolonged hours of sitting can increase the risk of upper respiratory infections, but that moderate exercise can reduce this by stimulating an immune response in the body.

4. Up the probiotics and prebiotics
About 70% of the body’s immune cells are found in the gut where good and bad bacteria are found. Probiotics increase the good bacteria and reduce potential damage caused by harmful bacteria. Prebiotics, on the other hand, stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria and directly impact the body’s defence system by decreasing susceptibility to inflammatory disease.

Make sure your child is completely ready for school this year with a healthy immune system.

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