The week before travel is usually filled with last minute running around and wrapping things up in the daily activities of life. What has to get done and what can wait until we return? Who needs to go where and what needs to be packed, cleaned, purchased, etc. Many people are highly stressed the week before travel.
One thing easily overlooked is making health a priority. Good sleep, nutrition, hand washing, and avoiding exposure to sick kids or public germs may seem impossible when racing against the clock.
However, this crazy schedule can result in one thing- sick travelers.
Have you ever traveled when sick? From personal experience, I can confirm that body aches, migraines, fever, or colds are exponentially worse when there is no place to curl up in a ball and moan. Even simple things can seem overwhelming – and we all know there is nothing simple about traveling.
That is how I felt as an adult traveling with an unexpected illness. What happens when the long awaited trip is finally here and a member of the family vomits on the way to the airport? What about just when the plane reaches cruising altitude and your toddler appears lethargic and feverish?
Illness can show up days after exposure. If the body is weakened by lack of sleep, tension, quick bites to eat (instead of nourishing fuel) and exposure to a classmate’s illness- well, the immune system will directly reflect what was invested!
Look around at your family’s environment outside the home. Do kids in school wash their hands before eating or after going to the bathroom or playing at recess? Kids spread the most germs because of hygiene issues. My 5 year old son has traveled to 15 countries and not ever been sick on a trip. However, he has had multiple colds and even pneumonia since starting kindergarten! His pediatrician was correct when he said I needed to count the number of little fingers in the classroom when comparing it to countries my son has traveled in terms of exposure to germs! 
Here are 7 tips to Keeping Young Travelers Healthy Before Travel:
1. Teach your child how to properly wash hands and when. Reinforce daily but make it fun. Teach by example.
2. View food as fuel. What keeps your little one going? Nutrition does make a difference. Teach by example.
3. Hydrate. Dehydration causes numerous problems. Make realistic daily goals for drinking water. Teach by example.
4. Teach your child how to sneeze in the elbow/arm instead of hands. Teach by example.
5. Limit exposure to others as well as public places (when possible) the week before travel.
6. Try to avoid the early morning flight. Sleep deprived travelers are more susceptible to illness.
7. Consider using an air purifier in the home or classroom.
Whatever you do, remember the most powerful teaching method for children is to follow your example.
Put things in perspective, make a list of things to get done, but make sure health is a priority.
Your family is depending on it!
