Child's Health

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Health and Safety of Children

• Physical Activity:

Recommended amount of physical activity:

The World Health Organization, WHO recommends the following:

• Children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily. Such activities include: Walking, running, football, basketball, and cycling

WHO also recommends the following activities:

• Vigorous-intensity aerobic activities: Minimum of three days a week
• Muscle-strengthening activities : Minimum of three days a week
• Bone-strengthening activities: Minimum of three days a week

This may seem excessive; however, physical activity does not necessarily mean that exercising should be done only at the gym; it could also be incorporated in day-to-day household activities.

Guidance on Increasing Physical Activity in Children:

The elimination of excess weight in children is one of the most complicated, but simple, things to do. This is because it is difficult to deal with the culture of those surrounding the child, or address a child's wishes and other psychological and environmental factors.

Protecting your child from obesity should be your top health priority. However, if your child becomes overweight or obese, you should interfere to change their lifestyle (nutrition and physical activity), while ensuring that this change is enjoyable for the child. Below are some guidance tips to help your child increase their physical activity:

A- Encourage your child to move:

In the past, It was common to see children moving and playing everywhere, but nowadays, it has become a rare occurrence. Below are some ideas for you to help your child return to being active:

• Playing active household games, such as: Chasing games, hide and seek, jump-rope, and others
• Playing video games that require movement, such as: Wii and Kinect (motion simulator).
• Also, try walking around with your child and performing some activities together, such as: Walking, cycling, visiting parks, playing, and others.
• Involve your child in household chores, such as: Sweeping, taking out the trash, cleaning surfaces, mopping the floor, and others.
• Register your child in a sports club if possible.
• Set a specific physical activity goal (such as walking for 5 kilometers), and reward your child upon completion.

B- Set up screen time limits for your child:

The less time your child spends using electronic devices, the more physically active he will become. In addition, parents should take into consideration that their children imitate them and this is why the whole family should reduce the time spent using electronic devices. This can be achieved by:

• Limiting the time your child spends using electronic devices.
• Not allowing your child to watch TV while eating.
• Whenever you want to reward your child, the reward should preferably be a trip to a place of his own choosing, or an activity he loves to do, rather than rewarding him with additional screen time.

• In-car Child Safety:

The importance of car seats for babies and children:

Road accidents cause the deaths of many children every year. Accidents have increased significantly since 2015 due to several reasons (such as distracted driving). Such accidents are difficult to prevent if the driver uses smart devices while driving. Meanwhile, even if you drive safely, this does not necessarily mean that other drivers do.

Having your child sit in a properly-installed car seat, that is appropriate for his age, in the back seat, would help protect your child, and reduces the risk of suffering from serious injuries in road accidents; whose victims are mostly children.

Types of child car seats:

Car seat types vary depending on the child's age and weight, as well as the vehicle type. Car seat types include:

Guidance on choosing the right car seat for your child:

• There is no such thing as the "best" or "most efficient" seat. The type of each seat is bound by the age and size of the child, as well as proper installation and proper use.
• Seat's high price does not necessarily mean that it is the best.
• It is recommend that the seat filling is comfortable for your child's head, providing the necessary head support, especially when travelling.
• Make sure that the fabric of the seat absorbs moisture, and that this fabric is removable for cleaning purposes.
• Make sure that the car seat has a sunshade cover to protect your child from the sun.
• Make sure that the car seat is easy to remove and install into the stroller.

• Child safety at Home:

Most common accidents:

• Playing with chemicals (medicines, detergents, cleaning products and others).
• Toy-related problems.
• Falling down.
• Burns.

For further information:

• Health and Safety of Children.pdf