“Don’t confine your child within four walls of home during summer”
Mrs Meeta Rai, Principal DPS Indirapuram
During the summer vacation, children like to spend their days browsing the Web, playing online/ video games, chatting, sharing something interesting with their friends, watching television or just sleeping. But is it right on their part to refrain from venturing outdoor simply to escape from the heat?
Similarly, Parents face a tough time in ensuring that children stay healthy while coping with the summer heat. According to experts, the school going children become more vulnerable to food poisoning in summer and the incidence goes up by 20 to 30 per cent in the cities at this time of the year. The reasons are cockroaches and rodents that seem to have a free run of the house. Team Double Helical spoke to renowned educationist Mrs Meeta Rai, Principal, Delhi Public School (DPS) Indirapuram to know her views on these vital concerns pertaining to children. Excerpts from the interview:
What safety measures would you suggest children to tackle the excessive heat in the summer season, especially when they are into various outdoor activities?
There are several measures that I would suggest; of course this depends on the concern and awareness of the parents. A few points that I think would help combat the heat are:
a) Parents should ensure that children wear light cotton clothes preferably light colours yet covering their body parts to avoid direct exposure to heat and sun.
b) The Parents must ensure that children carry water or fresh ‘Nimbu Pani’ with them whenever they step out of the house.
c) They should not expose themselves to the direct sun for a long time – and not do strenuous activity for too long outdoors.
Most parents today don’t allow their children to perform outdoor activities during summers. Is this a correct approach?
Children should be allowed to enjoy their life, winter or summer season. Early morning hours are the best time for outdoor activity in the summer season. A child needs to be out in the open for some time in the day to ensure the intake of adequate vitamin D and oxygen. So, preferably a park with greenery would be a healthy option. If an active child is made to stay indoors and not play his usual games, he/she may become restless and destructive at home and it would hamper the mental as well as physical growth of that person.
Don’t you think that the exposure to intense heat can be harmful at times and can cause heat strokes, cramps, dehydration, skin allergies, etc?
While it is important that parents do not over pamper their children by getting them used to only air–conditioned environment, children’s outdoor activity during the intense heat period should be carefully monitored. Parents should ensure that their children take enough precautions while going out in the sun.
Swimming keeps us cool during this weather. What preparations should be taken when conducting this activity during the day time?
Swimming is an excellent way to cool down – most pools are covered but if they are not, then swimming can be avoided during peak afternoon period. In our school, some exercises are performed before the swimming begins and after the swimming, cooling down with a shower is also ensured. It all depends on the situation and the weather.
How can we inculcate health eating habits during the summer season?
First, you can start cooking with your children. They will like to eat what they make, and will try new and healthy foods when you make meals together. While they help you cook, teach them about healthy eating. You can cook with kids of just about any age. Younger students can watch what you are doing and help with small tasks. Three-year-olds can wash fruits and vegetables, and four-year-olds can put things in the trash. Older kids can measure ingredients or crack eggs.
Decayed food leads to increased cases of diarrhoea and gastro-intestinal trouble among students around this time. The first tell-tale signs are stomach ache and vomiting. Parents should not ignore these symptoms and immediately start giving ORS to kids to prevent fluid loss. Healthy children, too, should drink lots of water to keep indigestion at bay.
Cockroaches are one of the main causes of food contamination and poisoning, especially among children, in summer. Leaving unwashed dishes in the sink after dinner or not cleaning the dining table properly after a meal are invitations to cockroaches and other insects for a late-night party.
The next morning at breakfast, a child could pick up something from the table. In some cases, where they are fed by help, strict hygiene may not be maintained. All these can lead to food poisoning even if the child is eating apparently healthy meals. Cockroaches and its faeces are the main cause of allergies and asthma among kids in summer. City schools, too, are taking steps to ensure hygiene and health. At all branches of Delhi Public School we are keeping watch over the food served in the canteen.
We are also checking children’s lunch boxes and helping parents with suggestions about the kind of food they should prepare for their wards. Food poisoning is a major reason why kids miss out on school around this time. Students are counselled by the school doctors on proper eating and hygiene habits. They are also educated about safe tiffin options by us.