As parents, it is so challenging to see our little ones under the weather. Whether it’s a seasonal cold, flu, or any other illness, we often feel helpless watching our children not feeling their best. But here’s the good news – you have more power than you might think to help your child bounce back quickly and build a stronger immune system in the process!
In this blog, we’ll explore the 3R’s of Rapid Recovery – a simple but powerful approach that can help your family navigate through illness and emerge stronger on the other side. Let’s explore how you can take an active role in supporting your child’s natural healing process.
- Rest
Usually, the reason we get sick is that we’ve been doing a poor job of this one essential health + resilience-building action (or lack of action) – rest.
When we’re in a busy, stressful, chaotic season as an individual or as a family, it very much depletes our body’s natural defenses and weakens our immune systems. This lowered resistance and resilience is what actually causes an illness to take hold, not merely the exposure to it (germ theory).
Therefore, the most important thing our body craves and needs to get over the illness as quickly and effectively as possible is to rest.
This looks like not only extra sleep but also just taking it easy when you’re awake. Do all you can to avoid checking emails or work messages as an adult, and do all you can to keep your child or teen away from phones, texts, YouTube, and TV when they are resting. While this can be quite boring and, therefore, difficult to do, it will help speed recovery in a major way.
- Replenish
Once again, the lack of proper nutrients and nourishment is likely what led to the illness in the first place, so once again, it makes sense to really prioritize this step and get lots of clean water stacked with electrolytes and minerals, lots of clean protein and macronutrients, and lots of superfood smoothies, fruits, and vegetables into your diet as possible.
While you or your child may not feel much like eating or drinking at all during the initial stages of the illness, once hunger and drive start to kick in again, that’s a sign the body is really ready to replenish, so it’s important to load it up with all the right nutrients in doing so!
- Recharge
The two systems that take the biggest hit during an illness are of course, the immune system, but also the nervous system, which controls and coordinates immune function.
You’ll want to recharge the nervous system by getting at least one (if not two) Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic adjustments each day during the illness, and then absolutely load up on all immune system boosting and recharging supplements such as Vitamin D, Vitamin C, zinc, and so forth. Also, things like bone broth, elderberry syrup, raw local honey, and various essential oils and homeopathic remedies can really help recharge and strengthen your immune system.
To get even more action steps and strategies to recharge and build your immune system back up, check out this PDF guide.
Putting It All Together
Point blank: getting sick is a regular part of life. We’re all going to have times when we get busy, don’t quite keep our guard up, and a virus or illness gets a hold of us for a short season. So, as parents, by implementing the 3R’s, we’re not just helping our kids get through a current illness – we’re teaching them valuable lifelong habits for maintaining their health.
Even small steps in the right direction can make a significant difference in your child’s recovery time and overall resilience. Trust your parental instincts, stay consistent with these practices, and watch as your family builds stronger immunity together.
The next time an illness visits your home, take a deep breath and remember: you’ve got this! With the 3R’s and “Kick the Sick” plan in your parenting toolkit, you’re well-equipped to help your little ones bounce back stronger than ever. Here’s to raising healthy, resilient kids!
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