Five essential health tips

for back to school

From head lice to bad backs, there is plenty you can do to keep your child safe throughout the school year.

You may have bought the new school uniform, battled over their shoes, and invested in all the books, but have you taken care of the most important part of back to school? Your child's health.

Treat head lice

One in three children will get head lice at some point during the year. Lice spread through head-to-head contact, and children often play with their heads close together. Some people mistakenly call nits "lice," but these are just empty eggshells. Having head lice does not mean your child has dirty hair - lice don't prefer clean or dirty hair as long as they can reach the scalp quickly, which is why short hair can make your child more vulnerable.

Tying back long hair can help minimize the risk of infection, but it is a myth that lice prefer long hair. Head lice can be treated with chemical lotions, although lice have become resistant to many types. A more natural alternative is to comb through your child's wet hair with a special fine-toothed comb. This removes both head lice and nits.

Add a little tea tree oil to their conditioner; research suggests it is over 90 percent effective in killing head lice compared to chemical treatments.

Another option is using Neem oil (which has a slightly unpleasant smell), or a gentler solution is rubbing lavender essential oil into the scalp.

Caring for bruises and blisters

You can't prevent your child from getting playground scrapes, but you can help them recover faster.

Herbalists often recommend arnica for scrapes and bruises - there is some evidence it may speed up the healing process - while applying Vitamin E cream can help the skin heal, reducing scarring. Furthermore, tamanu oil or rosehip oil can help with grazes and blisters, though the latter may sting a little.

Did they come home with blisters from new school shoes? It's not a good idea to pop them as this can lead to infection, but applying a little aloe vera gel can help soothe the blister, as it is a natural anti-inflammatory.

Strengthen their immune system

Preschool and school-aged children typically catch between seven and ten colds a year, so it makes sense to lend a helping hand to their immune systems.

A multivitamin specifically for children can help plug any "gaps" in their diet.

Based on health data, it is recommended that all children between six months and five years of age receive a dietary supplement containing vitamins A, C, and D, so if we give them a little Vitamin D with breakfast, it can help them get through the dark winter days and boost their immune system.

Treating back issues

About 25 percent of school children suffer from back pain caused by heavy school bags. Obviously, the more schoolwork they have, the bulkier their bag becomes, but how they carry it matters just as much.

Physiotherapists advise using a backpack worn on both shoulders so that the weight is distributed evenly. Carrying a backpack on one shoulder or lugging a heavy bag in the crook of the arm puts extra strain on the spine. Also, check whether they really need to carry everything - could they leave something at school instead?

Proper sleep habits

Research suggests that our children are suffering from a sleep epidemic caused by electronic devices. Studies show that children who use smartphones, tablets, or computers before bed not only take much longer to fall asleep, but also sleep less, and feel much more tired during the day.

Shorter sleep patterns have been linked to an increased risk of illness in teenagers, such as the flu or stomach bugs, so encourage your children to stop playing games or log off social media a few hours before bedtime. And texting under the covers is strictly forbidden!

What solutions are there for improving sleep quality? Mandarin essential oil can be used in a diffuser, but definitely only for children over 3 years old. If they enjoy tea, lightly steeped lemon balm or chamomile also have a calming effect. You can also give a massage with mandarin and orange diluted in apricot kernel oil.

Five essential health tips for back-to-school