Raising a Safe, Happy, and Healthy Child
When we think about child safety, we tend
to focus on the potential dangers outside the home; the dubious strangers,
speeding motorists, or delinquent friends. These are the kinds of dangers that
make the headlines, and understandably so. However, there is more to looking
after your child than protecting them from external threats. Taking care of their health and wellbeing at
home and in the normal course of their life is also extremely important, and
statistically they have far more chance of coming to harm within their own
homes than outside them.
Safety
first
Toddlers are notorious for wanting to
investigate everything as they try and make sense of the world. They have no
idea that poking their fingers into an electrical outlet, or crawling out
through the dog flap might lead to harm, and so you make efforts to insulate
them from potential hazards by using baby-proofing kits to seal off
electrics, fridges and cupboards, and putting in stairgates to stop them trying
to climb the stairs. You also have to keep an eye on them all the time, to make
sure they don’t find some new and inventive way of getting into mischief. As
they grow up, gain control of their bodies, and learn to walk and talk, you can
start to communicate with them and explain the dangers of certain actions. This
is an essential part of their education, not because you want them to be afraid
of everything, but so that they understand how to look after themselves and
avoid getting into trouble.
Accidents
do happen
Inevitably at some point, however thorough your efforts, an accident will happen,
and you’ll have a screaming child on your hands. Although it’s distressing,
take comfort from the knowledge that sometimes it’s necessary to learn a lesson
first hand for it to make a lasting impression. Without ever experiencing the
unpleasant side of life, they won’t learn to cope with it and will struggle
when they grow up. Taking reasonable care to prevent accidents and injuries is
a fundamental part of good parenting, but it’s a mistake to believe that
children should never be exposed to anything bad.
The
immune system
To build up a healthy
immune system, kids need to be exposed to
bacteria and viruses, so their immune system learns to create antibodies to
fight invading bugs in the future. It is the principle behind vaccination, where a dead or harmless version
of a serious illness is taken into the
body, allowing the immune system to identify it and prepare the right
antibodies. Then when the same virus is
encountered later on, the defences
are already in position, and the illness is
killed before it takes hold. You might wonder why, if this is true, that
you keep on getting things like colds throughout your life. The trouble is that
there are many different strains of the cold
virus, so when you’ve had one, you shouldn’t get that same one again, but
you’re still vulnerable to all the ones you’ve never had. That’s also why flu
jabs need to be tailored to the prevalent
strain that season.
Allergies
and autoimmune conditions
In addition to it being important for the
immune system to be able to identify and create antibodies against invasion by
viruses, it also needs to have contact with a wide variety of environmental conditions.
Research has shown that children who are kept
in scrupulously clean environments are more likely to develop conditions like
asthma and allergies. A child’s best way of starting to build a healthy immune
system is for them to be breastfed,
taking in the protective qualities of the mother’s milk. To develop the immune system further, exposure
to various types of dirt and contact with animals is required. If this doesn’t
happen, then exposure at a later date can make the immune system go into
overdrive, producing the distressing symptoms of allergies and other auto-immune
disorders. Your role as a parent is to make sure they have exposure
to all the conditions that will help them develop good immunity, without
putting them in danger of contracting serious illnesses like food poisoning.
Treating
childhood illnesses
Again, overprotection won’t benefit your
child. If they have a bad cold, rest and plenty of fluids is the best way to
get them better. Antibiotics are of no use because they only work on bacteria,
and viruses cause colds. If you take the
child to the doctor with a cold, there will be little they can do except give
you the standard advice of rest and fluids; plus you could be spreading the
infection. To treat your sick child appropriately, you need to be aware of the
key signs of serious illness as compared to the normal process of recovery from
minor illness. For example, a high temperature is an indication that the child
needs checking by a doctor, so you need to know how to take their temperature
accurately, and what readings are normal or elevated. If your doctor prescribes medicines for your child, follow the
instructions carefully and always finish the course, even if they are getting
better. You can find out more about what has been prescribed, and get the best deals on the medications your
child needs if you view
here for information.
Emotional
wellbeing
It’s not just their physical welfare you
need to be mindful of. You are the most
influential figure in your kid’s life in terms
of emotional intelligence and mental wellbeing. Set a good example for
your child, and always pay attention to their needs. Don’t dismiss their fears
or put them down, listen to what they say, empathize
and explain why they don’t need to worry. There are many, many ways in which
you can negatively affect your child’s emotional development, and if it’s not
something you’ve thought about too much before, it’s worth finding out more
about the subject, and the best ways to support your kid’s emotional development.
Caring for their safety, looking after them
when they’re ill, and providing them with a sound emotional foundation are all
essential aspects of raising happy, healthy children.