It’s time to WHACK your kids into health. No, not literally. WHACK is an acronym used by many schools to keep their students attending regularly by empowering them to take control of their own health and hygiene. The average amount of children’s colds in a year is almost triple the average amount of adult colds in a year, but this little acronym may be just the thing to level the playing field.

WHACK Stands For:

(W)ash or sanitize your hands often

(H)ome is where you stay when you are sick

(A)void touching your eyes, nose and mouth

(C)over your coughs and sneezes

(K)eep your distance from sick people

According to a Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal study, the WHACK program in schools has been proven to decrease the amount of absent elementary aged children by 26%, compared to school that haven’t implemented the program. Children’s colds and flus are a common reason for absenteeism in elementary schools, and with so many children in one place, 5 days a week, hygiene could mean the difference between sickness or health.

By engaging children in the learning process, information tends to stick better, and the WHACK program is designed to do just that. WHACK recommends children wash their hands 4 times a day; once when they get to school, before and after lunch, and again when leaving school. You could apply this to your own household, as well.  Think about starting a star chart or point system for every time your child washes his or her hands at the recommended time. This is a great program to turn into a game, or reward system. What have you got to lose besides the coughing, runny noses, and sneezing?

For the full study, click here.

If you’re hearing your toddler cough again and wondering what gives, you’re not alone. The reality is that children can get anywhere between 6-12 colds a year. The combination of their immune systems developing and their interaction with other children (and germs) are two major factors. This can be frustrating for a parent who just wants their kid to be well. It can also cause worry that it may be something else altogether. Remember: when in doubt, a doctor’s visit is never a bad idea, but if you know it’s just another case of the common cold, use these 5 steps to get a jump on that runny nose and cough.

Tip #1. Consider Vitamins

Daily Vitamin C can boost the immune system and make your child less susceptible to germs and infections. Other vitamins include additional health benefits, like strong and healthy bones (especially if your kiddo isn’t big on milk), improved vision, and energy for their many active days. Keep in mind that it’s not recommended that children take mega-doses of vitamins. Too many vitamins can be more toxic for children than adults. We all need vitamins, but in moderation.

Tip #2. Take a Look at Nutrition

Speaking of vitamins, you don’t necessarily have to turn to the bottled variety; certain foods can be even more effective. Milk, yogurts, and cheeses can provide children with their necessary calcium intake, and certain proteins like meats, poultry and eggs provide the iron they need for energy and strength. Let’s not forget about fruits and vegetables; they have a multitude of health benefits, including the ability improve digestion, boost the immune system and of course, ward off colds.  Nutrition is a heavy-hitter when it comes to health and wellbeing.

Tip #3. Check for Allergies

Allergies may be the culprit in some cases. A good way to tell the difference between the common cold and allergies? A common cold can last 10-14 days, but if your child is still sneezing and has the tell-tale red under eyes for longer than that, allergies are a likely cause.  If your child deals with seasonal allergies, a doctor may prescribe some medicines to ease the symptoms. If the allergies are due to a food or environmental factor — such as loveable pets and feather pillows — it may be in your child’s best interest to reevaluate the situation. It may be hard to get rid of a beloved pet, but if the symptoms are bad enough it may be necessary.

Tip #4. Choose OTC Medicines Wisely

If it’s breaking your heart to hear your toddler cough, remember to think twice before giving them over the counter cough syrups. Many children’s cough syrups have been scrutinized and even banned by the FDA for dangerous and ineffective ingredients. When your child’s cough or sore throat could use some soothing, try cough syrups made from safe and natural ingredients. It’s not worth risking your child’s health just to sooth a cough. It is, however, completely worth it to try some natural remedies.

Tip #5. Seek Medical Help

If your child’s symptoms include a whooping cough and/or fever, medical attention may be necessary. It may be the flu, but it could also be a number of other more serious illnesses. Check with your pediatrician if you observe any of these or other more serious symptoms, or if you have a feeling that it’s serious. A mother’s intuition counts for a lot.

Who knew honey was good for you?  Pooh knew.  That’s right, maybe that silly old bear was on to something.  Honey is more than just tasty; there are health benefits, too. You may use it as an ingredient in your food or drink, but what about honey to ease your children’s cough? Or honey as an antioxidant?  When it comes to improving your health, honey may deserve some credit.

The Results Are In

For years, singers have used lemon and honey tea to sooth their throats before and after performances, and it seems they’ve made the right choice. A clinical trial performed by Penn State compared honey with the most common cough syrup ingredient Dextromethorphan (DM) and no treatment at all. Honey prevailed as the most effective of the three, with parents reporting that it eased their child’s cough and sore throat more effectively than the other two methods.

Multiple Uses

Historically, honey has been used to help fight infections, reduce inflammation, and even heal scars. Mother’s have used it to ease their children’s cough, or to sooth a sore throat. Some people have even reported using it to treat digestive issues. Although it has not been clinically proven as a remedy for all of those problems (besides cough and sore throat), it is worth a shot for many people because it’s natural and presents little-to-no risk.

The Best of the Best

Is all honey created equal? Not necessarily. Although all honeys have some healing properties, others pack a more powerful punch. Buckwheat honey, for instance, is a darker, more antioxidant- rich honey. In a study reported in the Journal of Wound Care 2008, it was concluded that buckwheat honey was 30 times more effective at healing wounds than the other honeys studied, due to its high antioxidant levels. These results have proven that buckwheat honey is more effective remedy for common ailments.

For many, honey has always been a go-to household remedy, as wise grandmothers have passed down their tips and tricks. The next time you’re dealing with a sore throat or your children’s cough, or maybe you just need more antioxidants in your life, you might want to consider Grandma’s advice.

We all crave love and acceptance, and a sick child needs those things more than usual. When a child is sick it can be lonely and even scary, and there is nothing in the world like a parent’s nurture and love during those times. But you don’t have to be a parent; you can be a grandparent, aunt, uncle, sister, brother, cousin, or guardian.  Here are a few tender loving care (TLC) tips to get your child in tip top shape again. The best part? They’ll have you to thank.

Get Crafty

If the child is old enough that being sick means missing school or other activities, then this is a great time to get them involved is some crafts that unleash their creative side and take their minds off their aches and pains. It can also be a time of bonding with you and the child. Keep in mind: this may not work for every sick child, since some illnesses do not allow for too much activity. However, if the child is well enough, a simple craft project— maybe even while they lay in bed— could be just the thing to keep their minds on the positive. As an adult, this could end up being some of the most valuable time you get with your child.

Food For the Sick : It’s all About Presentation

Some people say that food is the way to the heart, and with sick children, it’s all about presentation.  While some sicknesses don’t allow for anything fancier than salt crackers, toast, and ginger ale, you can put a little extra TLC into the food by making the presentation look more inviting to your child. Even they’re only eating toast, you could use a cookie cutter to make a fun design in the toast, or place it on a wacky looking plate. If you’re trying to get them to drink their fluids, maybe pour it into a fun cup, add a silly straw, or give them their cough syrup on a funny looking spoon. You will get major points from the child for being creative, and it could definitely improve their spirits. How will this help? Lifted spirits mean decreased sick days.

Never Underestimate the Power of One-on-One Time

Sitting with your child is one of the best things you can do for them when they’re sick. You will most likely already be seeing to their every need from cough syrup to fluffing pillows, but being there for them emotionally is just as important. Sitting with the child while they fall asleep, watch a movie, or talk can go a long way. It shows them that you love, support and value them. Children, and adults for that matter, often feel vulnerable and alone when they’re sick, but giving them some one-on-one time shows them that you are at least one person who really cares and wants them to get better.

If the child in your life is sick, seize the opportunity to show them you love them and make the time they spend with you something they can look back on fondly.

Sleep problems in children have been on the rise in the last 20 years, partially due to changes in environmental factors and partially due to illness. Although illness has always been a cause for sleepless nights, technology has really increased the distracting stimuli that children can’t resist.  What are poor sleepless parents to do? Here are some parental tips to help your child regain some peace of mind and get some shut eye, no matter the cause.

White Noise

White noises, such as fans, have been known to create a comfortable environment for children and adults alike. The white noise can block out distracting sounds, and with a little consistency, a child (or adult) can start associating the sound of the fan with sleep. They could potentially find themselves less distracted and sleeping more deeply.

Humidifiers for Better Breathing

Often times sleep is a challenge because breathing is a challenge. A humidifier can help keep the lungs and sinuses clear by releasing moisture into the air. Plus, some humidifiers also produce a white noise sound that can have the child enjoying multiple benefits from the machine.

Making the Bedroom a Place of Rest, Not Play

Many parents and children have rooms that represent work, play, or stress. If you take the majority of the distracting entertainment out of your child’s room, you could help your child drastically decrease their hyperactivity when in the bedroom. It’s popular for a lot of children and adults to have a television in their bedroom, but TV is one of the biggest distractions we face. By taking television and other distractions out of the bedroom, children will begin to understand that their bedroom is a place for rest, not play.

Natural Sleep Remedies

Whether your child is suffering from illness or just restlessness, natural remedies can come in handy; and without the risk of over-medicating your child.  Many people turn to old tried and true methods, such as warm milk or aroma therapy, like lavender. If the lack of sleep is due to a cough, a great natural remedy is Zarbees Children’s Cough and Sleep drink, which includes melatonin, a neurotransmitter that promotes sleep. You can also get melatonin from eating complex carbohydrate foods for dinner. Bottom line: Natural remedies should be taken into consideration before deciding to medicate with drugs.

If the sleep problems persist, a doctor may be needed for further advice or remedies.