Boosting Children’s Immunity for Back to School

It’s back to school time already! Can you believe how quickly September has come around? As we rush to find new school shoes, Autumn coats, and the latest pencil cases (wasn’t that the best part of going back to school?), it’s also crucial to consider the changing seasons and how they might impact our little one’s immunity. 

In this blog, we’ll cover everything from children’s vitamin D supplements to multivitamins for teenagers, giving you a head start on building strong, resilient immune systems for the coming months.

Why Back to School is the Perfect Time to Boost Immunity

September (or August if you’re in bonnie Scotland) marks the return to school and the beginning of the changing seasons - two perfect reasons to focus on boosting your children’s immunity (and yours too!). 

We all know how essential the immune system is. Supporting it needs a multi-faceted approach, including sleep, good nutrition, hygiene, hydration, and movement. This isn’t about using hand sanitiser every five minutes, in fact, quite the opposite, as we believe regular exposure to everyday germs can help build a stronger immune system over time.

One great way to support immunity, especially when perfect nutrition and daily routines aren’t always achievable (kids do often change their minds about what they like!), is through supplements. These supplements work with the body to fill in the gaps that naturally occur.

Why Do Children Need Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is very well known for its many benefits. Here’s why it’s essential for your children:

• Bone Health and Growth: Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium and other minerals that build and maintain strong bones and teeth.

• Immune System Support: It helps protect your child from infections like colds, flu, viruses and other respiratory illnesses.

• Muscle Function: Vitamin D contributes to healthy muscle function, which is important for all the games and sports played at school.

• Mood and Mental Health: It may play a role in mood regulation, helping children feel happy, healthy, and vibrant.

• Limited Sun Exposure: Kids who spend a lot of time indoors or live in areas with limited sunlight (especially in the UK) may not get enough vitamin D naturally. Supplements ensure they maintain optimal levels, regardless of the weather or time spent outdoors bare skin in sunlight.

Quick Tip: To maximise vitamin D’s benefits, you must pair it with magnesium, as magnesium activates vitamin D in the body. Our Magnesium Complex is ideal for kids and adults. For children aged 4+ take 1 capsule daily, and those aged 9-14 years, take 2 capsules daily.

We offer two great options for Vitamin D: capsules or drops. Both are fantastic, it really comes down to personal preference. Our Terranova Green Child Vitamin D3 capsules are suitable for kids aged 4 and up with just one capsule a day meeting their needs. If capsules are tricky, you can open them and mix them with a little yogurt or into food. 

For younger children or those who prefer drops, our Vitamin D3 drops are perfect, even for babies from birth. For kids aged 4+, 4 drops will do the trick, for babies, 2 drops are all you need.

Looking for all around support? Our Organic Children’s Vitamins bundle has you covered:

• Terranova Green Child Vitamin D3: Vital for growth, development, and immunity.

• Terranova Green Child Friendly Microflora: A good probiotic is key since 85% of the immune system is in the gut. This also supports hormones and nutrient absorption.

• Terranova Green Child Living Multi: Perfect for covering any nutritional gaps, especially during those veggie strikes!

Multivitamins for Teenagers:

Let’s not forget about our teenagers. Whether it’s their first year of high school or their last, supporting their immunity is crucial. High school is a rollercoaster of emotions, with hormones, new cravings, and the stress of new friends and subjects. While nutrition, physical activity, hydration, and hygiene are essential, it’s harder to monitor what teens eat or drink. That’s where supplements become key.

For children up to 12, our Organic Children’s Vitamins bundle is perfect. From 12+, we recommend our Teenager Essentials Vitamins bundle, offering better support for concentration, hormonal changes, growth spurts, and academic stress. This bundle includes:

• Magnesium Complex: Gentle on the stomach and highly absorbable, it’s excellent for stress management, cramps after sports, irregular sleep patterns, and nutrient absorption.

• Vitamin D3: Provides a higher dose to support growth spurts, immunity, mood, bone density and overall health.

• B Complex with Vitamin C: Boosts energy with B vitamins and supports immune health with vitamin C. It also has great adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, which helps teens through the stresses and challenges of their ever changing lives.

Top Tips for Enhancing Your Child’s Immunity:

We know that once our children leave our sight, their choices are beyond our control. However, we can educate them and provide the best foundation while they’re with us. Here are some top tips for ensuring your children and teens stay healthy:

• Sneaky Greens: If your child loves greens, that’s fantastic! If not, try blending them into nice smoothies. Add more fruit than vegetables if needed, but sneak in some spinach or a broccoli floret when they’re not looking. Our Sneaky Greens powder is also a great option for adding a nutrient boost to smoothies - they’ll never know!

• Make Movement Fun: If your child prefers lounging to being active, make movement fun or add a challenge. Whether cycling, swimming, or playing in the garden, the key is to keep it enjoyable. Consider an activity board where the most active family member wins a prize at the end of the week, maybe a treat or a trip to the cinema.

• Hydration: Drinking water can seem boring to kids, so make it fun by adding their favourite fruits, like berries, or some cucumber and mint for flavour. Hydrating fruits like cucumbers, oranges, and watermelon are also great, especially in hot weather.

• Managing Emotions: Take time to sit down with your child and talk about their emotions. Create a safe space for them to express how they feel, or maybe go for a walk in nature to help them open up. Helping them develop problem solving skills by guiding them through challenges is great for strength and resilience. 

• Sleeping Tips: Encourage your children to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. While this is easier said than done, it’s worth the effort. Set boundaries around screen time before bed to support their nervous system—less blue light means more melatonin, better sleep and better health.

Start the School Year Strong

We hope this guide helps you support your children’s immunity and health, from primary school all the way through high school. Every child is unique, so feel free to explore different approaches to boost their wellbeing. Don’t worry if they refuse nutritious foods or prefer juice over water—just focus on educating them and leading by example with healthy habits.

Our Organic Children’s Vitamins and Teenage Essential Vitamins bundles are designed to take the pressure off you by filling in the gaps that may be missed. With these supplements, you can ensure your children are ready to tackle the school year and the changing seasons with a strong, resilient immune system, giving you peace of mind.

Being a parent comes with great responsibility, and it’s not always easy. Remember to take care of yourself too, your immune system and emotional health are just as important. Please reach out to us if you would like some advice on supporting your own health, we’re here for you and always ready to help you achieve optimal health and vitality.