WORDS HANNAH WAY-LEE WONG

Q: My children are spending a lot of time at home lately. How do I keep them healthy?

The best way to make sure your child stays healthy at home is to give them proper and balanced nutrition. 

Parents should also allow their children to get adequate amounts of exercise and exposure to sunshine. Physical activity helps children build up their bones and muscles. Furthermore, I would recommend parents to organize fun activities that can stimulate the mind and encourage interaction among family members at home.

Q: Can you recommend some food and nutrition tips for my child?

All children require proper nutrition, and that refers to an adequate balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins. There is no single food or vitamin that can fulfil all your child’s nutritional needs.

Some children may have iron or vitamin D deficiency. These children might need some additional supplements. That said, as general rule, most balanced meals will contain all the nutrients a child would need. Just remember to not to give your child too much junk food and sweets. 

Q: How can I teach my young children to practice hand hygiene?

Children should be taught how to wash their hands the right way, and this can be taught very easily. A good indicator of how long you should wash your hands is to sing the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice. The best part is, when you teach children the correct technique of handwashing, they will likely remember it for the rest of their lives.

Q: Should parents use hand sanitizers on their young children?

Most hand sanitizers contain 70% alcohol in order to be effective. I wouldn’t recommend exposing a child to hand sanitizers, unless it is unavoidable. The best method of hand hygiene for babies and young children is to use soap and water.