5. Health Snippets, Term 2 2015

Breakfast Time
Breakfast at home is a healthy, low-cost way to help your child grow strong and be ready to learn.
Some breakfast ideas are:
·         Wheat bix and milk
·         porridge and milk
·         Banana and bread
·         Toast and spread
·         Left overs/ fruit

To obtain any resources or advice on healthy eating and the importance of breakfast, talk to your school’s public health nurse.
 

Eating for Healthy Children

You've probably read it and seen it on the news: the number of overweight and obese children has continued to rise over the past two decades and this can contribute to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma & sleep apnoea.

What can you do as a parent/caregiver?

·         Eat together as a family at the table as often as possible
·         Children aged 5-12 years need 10-11hours sleep.
·         Limit the amount of sedentary activity
       Quiet time for reading and homework is fine. Limit the time your children watch television, play
       video games, or surf the web to no more than 2 hours per day.
·         Encourage healthy eating habits.
        Eat a healthy breakfast every day
        Provide plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products.
        Include low-fat or non-fat milk or dairy products.
        Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for protein.
        Serve reasonably-sized portions.
        Encourage your family to drink lots of water.
        Limit sugar-sweetened beverages.
        Limit consumption of sugar and saturated fat.
·         Encourage physical activity
        Encourage the whole family to engage in an appropriate amount of physical activity and avoid too much
        sedentary time.
 www.kiwifamilies.co.nz
A wide range of nutrition articles and resources including breakfast, healthy school lunches and quick and easy meals.

Sleep

Sleep is important for children’s learning and behaviour. Sleep helps with physical and mental wellbeing and also helps prevent sickness. Children who do not get enough sleep may not be able to learn as well as their school friends who get enough sleep.

Primary school children typically sleep 10-12 hours each night. Common sleep problems in school children include refusing to go to bed, nightmares, sleep walking, delayed sleep, and snoring.

A regular bedtime routine that encourages relaxation, avoiding screen time and high energy physical activity close to bedtime are key to establishing healthy sleep habits. For good information on how to encourage good sleep patterns and strategies to use for common sleep problems - www.kidshealth.org.nz  - sleeping sound

 

Immunisation

Vaccine preventable diseases are only a plane ride away.

Disease outbreaks still occur in New Zealand when unvaccinated people travel to or from countries where diseases such as measles are still prevalent.  Diseases don’t discriminate - immunisation is your best protection against some serious but preventable diseases.

Immunise on Time Every Time to protect your child, your family and our community.

While it is best to immunise on time, every time – it is never too late to start. Talk to your Family Doctor, Practice, or Public Health Nurse if you would like more information.

Or check out: www.health.govt.nz/immunisation, http://www.immune.org.nz/ or 0800 466 863

Free HPV Vaccine for Young Women until You’re 20

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is offered free at school to girls in year 8. It is also free through your Family Doctor for young women until you’re 20.  The HPV vaccine protects against developing cervical cancer later in life and against most types of genital warts. To be most effective, have the vaccine early (12 years) as this gives the best chance of developing immunity.