It's Winter - Go Out and Have Fun!

Written by Dr. Philip Ukrainetz And Jana Sinclair

Living in Canada requires a certain ability to look for the silver lining when we are saddled with winter for six months out of the year. Sure, it takes a lot of patience to dress your kids up like Michelin Man to go outside for a mere 10 minutes, but there are so many fun winter activities to share with your kids.

Here are a few ways to keep them healthy and prepare them for a great time outdoors:

1. You’ve heard it a million times, but it’s worth repeating. Ensure your child washes his or her hands, and does it frequently. Cold and flu viruses can spread by direct contact from other kids that carry the virus, or simply by touching objects that have come in contact with someone who has a cold. Viruses are hearty and can survive on objects sometimes for weeks. For a thorough clean, wash the back of the hands, in-between fingers and down the sides of the hands. Rub hands vigorously to kill all those germs.
For times when soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based cleaner or pre-moistened hand wipes.

2. Be careful you don’t over-heat your child. If kids are going to be active outside, dress them one layer warmer than you would dress yourself. Toques and gloves need to be insisted upon as kid’s extremities can get cold faster than adults, and kids are slow to recognize when frost bite is setting in. If you are planning on doing all the activity yourself and just pulling your little one along in a sled (or if your child is inactive for long periods of time) dress him or her far more warmly than you would dress yourself.

3. In the event your child does get a touch of frost bite, do not rub the frost bitten area or try to heat it too quickly. Letting the skin air at room temperature or using tepid water is most effective and safe. You may want to give your child ibuprofen as soon as you recognize they have cold fingers or toes to head off the re-warming pain.

4. Lastly, and maybe surprisingly, embrace colds. (I know; this is a hard one!). Look at it this way - each cold boosts a child’s immune system. The goal is not to be cold free, or one day your child will develop an infection that even the worst cold can’t rival. The average child will get six to ten colds per year. Treat your child’s colds as you would your own - get them lots of rest, provide plenty of liquids, and if it works for your child, try a humidifier at night. Ironically, a little cold now and then will keep your child out of the hospital.

Now that you know how to protect your kids from the weather and keep them healthy, go ahead and enjoy all the fun activities our Canadian winter has to offer.