It's back to school *colds* season!

Did you know that the average American child catches 6 to 10 colds a year?

Now that summer is ending, your kids will be back in school. Did you know that children
gathering in schools in one of the main reasons why colds circulate? 

As the air starts to dry out, bacteria and viruses begin to multiple at much faster speeds. What
can parents do this school year to cut down on the number of colds your child catches?

Here are a few tips on how to avoid cold-causing viruses and infection-causing bacteria!

1. Teach them to wash their hands often.
Good old-fashioned hand washing is a great way to make sure that kids are being less
exposed to cold germs. As a teacher’s aide in a pre-school, I would teach those little
ones to sing their ABC’s or “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” When the song was done,
they had scrubbed their hands for long enough to get rid of germs. Hand washing
became a fun game that they love!

2. Help your child learn to steer clear of others who are sick.
Sneezing and coughing puts germs in the air that can infect others nearby. If a
playmate has a cold, you can reschedule a playdate until the friend is better. If a
relative has a cold, gently request that they avoid hugging and kissing your child until
they are better.

3. Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
Get back to a regular routine and stick to it. Many schools start early so adjust your
child’s bedtime accordingly. Children need at least 9 hours of sleep for middle
schoolers and more for younger children. Early bedtime will give your child the rest he
needs to be alert for learning in school.

4. Have them eat a well-balanced diet.
Make sure your child is getting the nutrients they require for their bodies to operate at
optimum levels and fight against cold viruses. Cut down on junk food and find healthy
replacements such as fruit instead of chips and cookies.

5. Get your child salted here at Strictly Salt
Halotherapy does wonders to ease cold symptoms. Dry salt inhalation helps to reduce
inflammation in the airways. This brings relief to both runny noses and congestion.  The
anti-bacterial properties of the salt aids in killing bacteria that has accumulated in the
airways due to blockages. Breathing salt gives your body get an extra immune boost! 
For the little ones, Strictly Salt has a salt room that they can play in like a sandbox with
pink rock salt for sand. For older kids, they can read or listen to our MP3 player. Our
younger clients LOVE their time in the salt room!