How to Keep your Kids as healthy as possible over Winter and beyond..
24th November 2025
With Winter coming up, we can’t always prevent every cold and cough. But there are a few things you can do to help your child stay healthy this winter and beyond.
The biggest difference over winter is that kids tend to spend more time indoors. This means that circulating viruses can spread more easily. But the impact of this transcends catching infections. It has a knock-on effect on their sleep, appetite and physical health. Although it may be tempting to let your kids stay inside when its cold, there are good reasons to get them out and about.
1) Kids need at least 60 minutes of outdoor activity and exercise daily. This is really important for them in so many ways, including getting fresh air, exercise and using up their abundant energy! They will also sleep better and function better mentally, and physically. Recent studies also show that kids who are physically active are also much less likely to suffer with mood disorders. So, getting your kids outside after school even if its just a family walk or trip to the park or getting them to play in the garden with friends. You could help them find a sport that they love which will increase their activity on a regular basis.
2) Reduce sugar. We have all realised that sugar can impact negatively on behaviour but it also can supress good immune function, and make it more difficult for your child to fight off those winter bugs. Sugar is highly addictive so regular sugary treats are just asking for trouble. Dental decay is rising in kids, and we know that poor dental health is linked to poor physical health. Try and get rid of sweets in the house, your kids will get used to it, and giving your child access to healthier options instead, will build good habits for them in the future.
3) Reduce screen time. This is a parenting nightmare, but unfortunately the science shows that excessive screen time is linked to poor sleep as well as obesity and poor emotional development. Anything that compromises sleep can affect their immune system which needs to be in full force to fight off those winter bugs. Use settings to limit time, and /or have screen free days on a regular basis. Restrict Tv watching to certain times. Talk to your kids about the impact of playing games/ too much screen time on their physical and mental health.
4) Ensure your kids get fresh fruit and vegetables daily. Even frozen fruit and vegetables are great. Try and limit processed food or look for healthier options whenever possible. Over winter you may want to supplement them with Vitamin D which can become low from lack of sunlight in the UK. This can pre dispose to more coughs and colds.
5) Encourage good hand hygiene especially after school, toileting, and before eating meals. This can especially help with bugs that are spread through the faecal-oral route such as norovirus which can wreak havoc in families as it is so infectious.
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https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-dentistry-crisis-sees-thousands-36010807
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