Since the health of the children is one of the topmost priorities, here are some tips to raise them healthily amidst the global pandemic:

1. Do regular exercise. Exercise is recommended to strengthen the bones and muscles, maintain a healthy body weight, reduce health risks such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and improve brain health. Stay physically active by doing home-based exercise or dancing.
2. Observe healthy eating habits. Introduce your children to healthy food including fruits and vegetables. Do not stock on junk food such as chips, candies and sodas at home. As much as possible, prepare your meals at home and refrain from ordering fast food online.
3. Teach children about infection control standard precautions. These include proper hand washing, proper use of mask, cough etiquette, environmental cleaning and proper waste disposal. Remember: Children below two years old are not required to wear masks for risk of suffocation.
4. Minimise screen time – use of computers, cellphones, TVs, IPads. Prolonged screen time not only strains the eyes but also disturbs sleep, delays learning and social skills, and aggravates behavioural problems. Use of gadgets should be limited. Guidelines are in place regarding the duration of screen time per age group. Gadgets should also be used with an adult beside to co-view, talk, and teach especially for the younger ones.
5. Create a routine at home. To create order/structure and provide a sense of security and discipline for the children, schedule mealtimes, chores, play, and creative activities. This ensures a well-balanced lifestyle and teaches important life skills.
6. Child-proof your home. Avoid falls, injury and poisoning. Keep your home safe by making sure to put sharp objects, medicines and toxic chemicals out of children’s reach. Buy age-appropriate toys to avoid the hazard of choking.  Do not leave your children unattended.
7. Cope with stress. Stress levels at home are heightened for both parents and children. It is important to maintain an open communication at all times. Enforce positive discipline such as the use of rewards to reinforce good behaviour and providing “time-outs” – sitting with your child quietly then hugging and explaining their behaviour. This allows both the child and the parent to cool-down and understand each other after a tantrum.
8. Keep connected. Teach your children how to write letters for family members and friends. These can help in expressing themselves as well as build-up their social and language skills.
9. Update immunisations. The rise of COVID-19 has not stopped the proliferation of other diseases. To protect your children from preventable diseases such as Pertussis, Tetanus, Measles, Chickenpox and Rotavirus, update their immunisations. These vaccines are safe and have greatly reduced the burden of infectious diseases worldwide.
10. Visit your doctor for checkups. Children should definitely be brought to their doctors when they are sick. However, doctor visits are not limited to sick children alone. It is very important to monitor their growth and development – physical, cognitive, language and social/emotional – to be able to provide early intervention.

One of the goals of every parent is to keep their children safe and healthy despite the difficulties experienced with the current global health crisis. This is attainable with the help of family, friends and your healthcare partners. A bright future awaits us when everyone works together.

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