Tips for a Healthy School Year {Giveaway}

After a summer of enjoying sunshine and the great outdoors, I know many of you cringe at the thought of your children returning to school and being exposed to all those germs. My good friend, Candy, shared on Facebook last night that one week into school her son is already home sick with the crud. I can totally relate. My son always get sick during the first few weeks of a new school year.

While exposure to germs at school is inevitable, there are some things you can do to better your child’s chances of having a healthy school year. This post is sponsored by CVS/pharmacy as part of a Find Your Healthy campaign. All thoughts are my own.

Get a back-to-school checkup. The start of a new school year is the perfect time to get a thorough physical, get up-to-date on immunizations and talk to your doctor about good health habits. Visiting the Minute Clinic at CVS/pharmacy is a convenient way to get your back-to-school checkup.

Get plenty of rest. My doctor always stresses how sleep is an important factor in good health. Did you know that it is recommended that children and teens get between 9 and 11 hours of sleep per night? It can be tricky getting your child’s sleep pattern to mesh with his new school schedule. It’s a good idea to start a school bedtime routine a week or two before the first day of school.

Promote a calm environment. It’s easy to get stressed out during the busy back-to-school season. Our children can sense when we are stressed out. That stress isn’t good for you or your child. Taking time for yourself will help you stay calm and relaxed during the busy school year.

Before things get too hectic, spend some time getting organized for the new school year. Use something like this Caliber Dry Erase Calendar, available at CVS, to keep track of assignments, appointments and after school activities.

Also, it’s important to give children plenty of down time and time for creative play and rest.

Consume a healthy diet. Starting the day with a healthy breakfast is important. Abound Quick Cook Steel Cut Oats are a great heart healthy breakfast option. Adding a bit of protein will provide your child with energy throughout the day.

Fruits and vegetables are great sources of vitamins and minerals, as well as other nutrients to boost your child’s health. Having them throughout the day will help the body to use those nutrients to function at its best. Kids can be finicky when it comes to fruits and vegetables so providing a fun fruit-filled afternoon snack is a good idea.

It’s hard to avoid the occasional sweet treat, so I recommend Gold Emblem Gummy Bears and Fruit Cubes which are free from artificial flavors, artificial colors, gluten, gelatin, fat and GMOs. They are quite delicious too!

Make good hygiene a way of life. Keeping a clean home and always practicing good hygiene as a family is the best way to teach children to have good hygiene at school. Washing their hands with soap is a very good start. Always do it before having meals, after using the bathroom, after playing, and after handling pets.

Remind kids to wash their hands at school, and send along some hand sanitizer for your child to use after touching communal tools, such as scissor. Also, encourage your child to cover their mouths when they cough so they don’t contribute to germ spreading.

Keep your home clean and free of germs with Total Home™ products from CVS. Total Home features high-performing household cleaners, paper goods, light bulbs and more for up to 20% less than national brands.

While you’re stocking up on paper goods and cleaning products, don’t forget that CVS also has a great selection of Caliber brand back-to-school supplies.

CVS/pharmacy has what you need for a healthy start to the school year. Follow the #FindYourHealthy hashtag for more tips and ideas for staying healthy.

Please leave a comment below and share your tips for a healthy school year.

Disclosure: I’m proud to partner with CVS/pharmacy for the #FindYourHealthy campaign. I am being sponsored by CVS/pharmacy for my posts and activities, but all opinions expressed are my own, and all product claims or program details shared should be verified at CVS.com or with the appropriate manufacturers.

It’s giveaway time!
One About a Mom reader will win an awesome back-to-school prize package from CVS which includes a Caliber Dry Erase Calendar and school supplies. The winner will also get Abound Quick Cook Steel Cut Oats, Gold Emblem Gummy Bears and Fruit Cubes, and Total Home Paper Towels. You deserve it! Giveaway is open to US readers and ends on August 28, 2015 at 11:59pm EST.

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