Gaby
A person can survive days without food and water, but only minutes without air. It’s well-known how refreshing and invigorating clean air can be, especially after stepping out of a stuffy room. When the air is clean, breathing becomes easy, deep, and free, allowing more oxygen to enter the body—something we cannot live without. Clean, fresh air is essential for both work and relaxation.
The beneficial effects of air depend on its temperature, humidity, movement, electrical state, as well as the presence of dust, bacteria, and other impurities and odors.
When a person spends too long in a crowded, polluted space, their well-being deteriorates. Breathing becomes shallow and less effective, leading to a decrease in oxygen intake. This can result in headaches, reduced concentration, decreased productivity, and increased irritability.
Air contaminated with microbes is particularly harmful. It’s widely recognized that air plays a significant role in the transmission of many diseases. It’s estimated that one-fifth of all infectious diseases are spread through the air.
When someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks—especially loudly—tiny droplets of saliva, along with microbes, are released into the air.
Microbes that settle with dust on various surfaces can be lifted back into the air by airflow and remain suspended for a long time. Where there is a lot of dust, there are also many microbes.
To prevent microbes from spreading into the air, it’s important to speak calmly and evenly, and to cover the mouth with a handkerchief when coughing or sneezing. Children should be taught these hygiene skills from an early age.
The fight for clean air involves a series of measures. The most important of these include daily thorough cleaning of the space and ventilating it by opening windows in the winter and doors in the summer. Ventilation should occur during and after cleaning. If you ventilate before cleaning, dust from surfaces and the floor will rise into the air, where it can be inhaled. It’s essential to remember that cross-ventilation is the most effective. In winter, it’s recommended to ventilate every hour for 5-10 minutes, and in summer, to keep windows open all day.
It’s crucial to ventilate the room before sleeping and in the morning. Breathing clean air while sleeping is very beneficial. It’s best to sleep with windows or vents open, or even outdoors if possible.
Smoking indoors significantly pollutes the air. As is well-known, smoking releases carbon monoxide from burning tobacco and paper, which can cause poisoning. Even small amounts can have harmful effects on health. Smoking is detrimental to everyone.
To raise a healthy, strong child, parents must care for them daily. They should ensure that the home environment is conducive to studying: the room where the student prepares for lessons should be bright, clean, and quiet; it should be well-ventilated.
A designated place and time for studying at home should be established for the student. Parents should monitor their child’s posture while studying.
If the desk is too low and the chair too high, the child will hunch over; conversely, if the desk is too high and the chair too low, they will have to raise one shoulder excessively, which can lead to spinal curvature.
When a student writes, the edge of the chair should extend 3-5 cm beyond the edge of the desk, both hands should rest on the table, the back should be straight, shoulders level, and feet should be flat on the floor or a bench.
During study sessions, it’s recommended that students take a 10-minute break every hour. These 10 minutes are best spent outdoors. After three hours of studying, the break should be extended to 30 minutes; frail children may benefit from a one-hour nap with the window or vent open, or on the balcony.
Upon waking in the morning, students should do morning exercises (with the window open).
After exercising, the entire body or at least half of it should be washed with water: starting with warm water in the first few days and gradually bringing it to room temperature. The exercises and washing should last 5-8 minutes.
Children should be fed at specific, regular times: irregular meal times can lead to a loss of appetite and digestive issues, which in turn can cause restless sleep, frequent awakenings, and inadequate recovery of strength. Poor sleep can make a child irritable, weak, and easily fatigued during lessons, hindering their ability to absorb the teacher’s explanations.
The amount of sleep needed varies by age and health. First graders require 12 hours of sleep per day (including daytime naps), second to fourth graders need 11 hours, and fifth to tenth graders need 9 hours.
Children should gradually be accustomed to sleeping with the window open, starting on warm days, while ensuring they do not get too cold or sweaty.
A child’s bed should be spacious and not overly soft. Children should not share a bed with other family members.
It’s important to avoid allowing children to engage in noisy and active games before bedtime, and reading or listening to scary stories during this time is unacceptable: these activities can excite them, making it difficult for them to calm down and fall asleep, resulting in restless, troubled sleep where they may talk in their sleep. Such sleep does not provide rest. For normal sleep, children need quiet and dim lighting. Adhering to these guidelines will ensure a healthy and restorative sleep for the child.
One of the key requirements for a schoolchild’s routine is spending ample time outdoors. First to fourth graders should be outside for 3-4 hours, fifth to sixth graders for 2 hours, and seventh to tenth graders for one to one and a half hours each day.
For successful upbringing, parents must enforce all the aforementioned rules and create suitable conditions for their children. Children should have their own soap, separate towels, toothbrushes, handkerchiefs, bathe weekly, change their underwear regularly, and keep their nails trimmed. By methodically instilling cleanliness and tidiness in children, educators and parents can work together to ensure that hygiene skills become second nature.
A schoolchild’s clothing should be appropriate for the season and weather conditions. A child who is bundled up in all weather is more likely to suffer from sore throats, flu, and boils.
The fit of clothing is also crucial. Tight clothing that constricts the chest can hinder breathing, which is harmful to a growing body. A tight collar can compress blood vessels leading to the head, disrupting normal blood flow to the brain. A tightly cinched belt or a narrow waist in a dress can compress the intestines, impairing digestion and blood circulation in the pelvic area and lower limbs.
Therefore, important conditions for proper hygienic education of a child include strict adherence to a daily routine, a balanced alternation of work and rest, rational nutrition, and frequent outdoor activities combined with sports and recreation.
The upbringing of a schoolchild at home is complemented by activities conducted at school and in pioneer camps. All of this forms a unified system of physical education for the child.
