Tips To Help Your Kids Enjoy A Healthy Spring Break

Horray! Spring break is finally here and it’s time to reconnect with your family on that vacation you’ve been planning for months. You’re probably looking forward to escaping the cold winter weather and enjoying some fun in the sun on the beach.

But for most parents, the idea of keeping your kids healthy as you travel is still a top priority. There is nothing worse than coming home from a fun vacation with sick kids.

Our natural health experts weigh in on the top ways to keep your kids healthy this spring break here. Whether you want to limit your kid’s exposure to germs on an airplane or protect them from sunburn, this guide has you covered.

Healthy Spring Break Tips Before You Leave

Keep your kids healthy this spring break by preparing before you leave for your trip. Start by ensuring they are healthy in the weeks leading up to spring break.

Prepare for your spring break flight

If you’re traveling by airplane, prepare healthy snacks and sufficient water to keep your children hydrated during the flight. Sipping on water helps with clearing the ears during descent.

Bring an inflatable foot pillow and neck pillow to promote a restful ride. Bring slippers for children to slip on and walk along the aisle to promote circulation and when feeling bored. Bring a jacket or blanket in case it’s cold on the plane.

Yu Ping Feng San helps to invigorate qi and dispel Wind. It strengthens your child’s immunity, thus reducing the risk of infection. It’s also beneficial for those experiencing recurring flu.

Stay healthy once you get to your destination

Once you arrive at your destination, try to maintain a healthy and active routine. Enforce early bedtimes and make sure your kids are eating nutritious meals.

This can be hard to do on vacation. You may want to consider looking at nearby activities and restaurants near your hotel that offer healthy options ahead of time.

Check to see what grocery stores (if any) are nearby. If you are staying at a hotel with a kitchen in your room, try to prepare your meals before going out.

Here are some healthy eating tips recommended by Physician Lim:

• Encourage your kids to eat more greens, such as leafy or bitter greens, spring carrots, and radishes. 
• Incorporate warm water, tea, or soups at meal times. This applies throughout the year as ingesting warm liquids balances your body’s physical and energetic temperature. It also benefits the digestive system.  
• Warm porridge is beneficial for the digestive system. Due to the relationship between the Liver and the Spleen, compromised Liver qi can affect the digestive system. Therefore, it is important to care for your Spleen to maintain good metabolism.  
• Consider adding goji berries into dishes or give them to your kids as raw snacks. This helps to nourish the Liver and Kidneys.  
• During spring break, children may sleep late. As a result, heat builds up in the Liver. Chrysanthemum tea can help to relieve Liver Fire and soothe red eyes, which is a sign of Liver Fire. 

Protect against sunburn and dehydration

If you’re traveling to a warm destination after being stuck indoors the entire winter, it can be tempting to spend all day in the sun. You can keep your kids healthy by planning ahead for sunburns and dehydration.

Apply sunscreen before you leave the hotel. Bring plenty of water with you and make sure your kids take water breaks while playing.

If you’ve taken these steps and your child still gets a sunburn or becomes dehydrated, Physician Lim recommends consuming herbs that nourish the yin to manage dehydration, such as:

• Mai Men Dong soup
• Zhi Bai Di Huang pills
• Zhu Ye Shi Gao soup  
• American ginseng

For topical treatment, you can apply fresh aloe vera gel. To help clear Heat, cool blood, reduce swelling, and promote recovery of damaged skin, Physician Lim recommends Zi Yun Gao.

What To Do If Your Child Gets Sick After Spring Break

If your child still manages to fall sick after spring break, you can manage their symptoms with an herbal flu relief or fever relief supplement.

• For a cough, children can be given a cough powder or Pak Poh powder.
• Pure chicken essence can be given to your child to promote recovery from the flu.
• Keep children hydrated with ginseng tea.

Always consult your child’s pediatrician or a TCM physician first before giving your child any herbal supplements.

How do you keep your family healthy while on vacation? Share your tips with us in the comments below.