The holidays are always a great time for fun, loved ones, and memorable adventures, but keeping up with busy schedules and travelling to various destinations can disrupt your child’s routine. Constant changes in diet, sleep schedules, lack of regular physical activity, and exposure to germs can affect their health. Read on to discover how to take proactive steps to ensure your child stays healthy during the holidays.

1. Maintain a Balanced Diet

During the holidays, children are often tempted by sugary treats, fast foods, and snacks. While occasional indulgence is acceptable, overconsumption can lead to energy crashes, stomach upset, or weight gain. Moreover, if your child has specific dietary needs, allergies, or medical conditions, ensure that holiday snacks and meals accommodate these requirements.

Most importantly, use your Affinity Health plan to consult a GP or dietitian for personalised advice. Additionally, these are some tips for maintaining a balanced diet:

• Encourage regular meals with fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
• Limit sugary snacks and drinks, replacing them with water, healthy smoothies, or 100% fruit juices in moderation.
• Plan for healthy treats like popcorn, nuts, or fruit kebabs, which can be festive without being harmful.
• Keep portion sizes appropriate for your child’s age and activity level.

2. Keep Up Physical Activity

Since the holidays often disrupt daily routines when your child is at school, and they may spend more time on screens than engaging in physical activity, maintaining physical activity is still necessary during this period. It can help maintain a healthy weight, build strong bones and muscles, while also supporting their mental health and sleep quality.

Managing a routine that prioritises physical activity for your child during the holidays can include:

• Encouraging outdoor play like soccer, cycling, swimming, or walking.
• Limiting screen time to allow for active breaks by introducing crafting and art-focused activities.
• Plan family activities that involve movement, such as hiking or visiting parks.
• Enrolling your child in holiday sports programmes or camps if available.

3. Ensure Adequate Sleep

It’s normal for sleep routines to change during holidays, as there are often many late nights and irregular schedules that disrupt patterns. However, quality sleep can help your child recover from excessive physical activity, support healthy growth, and strengthen their immunity. This is why lack of sleep can weaken the immune system, affect concentration, and impact their mood, making it more challenging to return to their regular schedule once the holidays are over.

4. Protect Against Common Infections

With more social interaction from family gatherings and travelling during the holidays, there’s a higher chance of illness. If your child is at a higher risk of frequent bouts of illnesses or they have a diagnosed chronic condition, your Affinity Health plan provides reliable nationwide cover so you can manage your child’s health no matter where the scenic holiday destination takes you. Other ways to stay proactive and reduce the risk of infections include:

• Teaching proper hand hygiene and how to wash hands frequently with soap and water, especially before meals and after using public facilities.
• Encouraging covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of contagious viruses.
• Ensuring their vaccinations are up to date, including flu shots if recommended.
• Avoiding crowded places if your child is particularly vulnerable or has a weakened immune system.

5. Manage Screen Time Wisely

The holidays are a time of relaxation, catching up with movies and series. This means your child will most likely spend more time exposed to digital screens, which can contribute to eye strain and disrupted sleep. Managing healthy screen use by setting daily limits, encouraging breaks and activities to help balance being in front of the screen and creative outdoor play.

6. Keep Them Hydrated

If there are distractions like playing and travelling, the chances of your child remembering to drink water regularly are slim. You should make a conscious effort to ensure they stay hydrated to reduce their risk of fatigue, headaches and heat stroke. To ensure enough water is consumed during the holidays, you should:

• Encourage water as the main beverage, supplemented with milk or diluted juices.
• Pack a water bottle for long-distance trips, outings, or playdates.
• Monitor for signs of dehydration, such as dry lips, decreased urination, or irritability.

7. Prioritising Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

While the holidays are a time for exciting adventures, they can still be overwhelming for some children. This is why ensuring you maintain a balanced routine that addresses their emotional and physical health is important for promoting a well-rounded child around this time of year. For instance, maintaining a sense of routine where social interactions are a priority and providing a platform for open conversations about any anxieties can be beneficial.

8. Take Advantage of Healthcare Support

Your Affinity Health plan provides added peace of mind during the holidays. Understanding your benefits and how to access the nationwide network around this time can help you take better care of your child. Some of the advantages of your healthcare plan during the holidays are:

• Relying on Telehealth consultations with a doctor, nurse or mental health professional if there’s a medical emergency while on the road or in a remote location.
• Being able to schedule routine GP check-ups for preventive care, no matter which province you find yourself in.
• Easy access to emergency medical services is available quickly in the event of an accident or illness.

Although the holidays are meant to be a time of enjoyment and creating new memories, medical emergencies can still be a concern. The good news is that taking proactive steps can help prevent common illnesses and ensure your child maintains their overall health. Your Affinity Health plan provides easy access to preventive care strategies and professional guidance, available 24/7, nationwide.