Harvey Gets Ready for Flu Season
Harvey Gets Ready for Flu Season
Hi, Friends! Harvey here.
Something was changing outside.
The mornings felt cooler.
Leaves were beginning to fall.
And I had discovered something wonderful:
Crunchy leaves are excellent for jumping into.
One morning, Dad brought a box down from the closet.
“What’s in there?” I asked.
“Fall things.”
Fall things?
I investigated immediately.
There were sweaters.
A jacket.
A warm blanket.
And something that looked suspiciously like a raincoat for me.
“I don’t think I need that,” I said.
“You say that every year,” Dad replied.
I continued investigating.
“Why are we getting all this stuff out?”
“Because the seasons are changing,” Mom said. “We’re getting ready.”
I liked that idea.
Getting ready.
What Else Happens in Fall?
We started making a list.
Cooler weather?
Ready.
Sweaters?
Ready.
Blankets?
Ready.
My raincoat?
I voted no.
Everyone else voted yes.
Then Mom added something else.
“We also start thinking about flu season.”
I stopped.
“Flu has a season?”
“Flu viruses can spread at different times,” Mom explained, “but flu usually spreads more during fall and winter.”
That didn’t sound nearly as much fun as jumping in leaves.
“Can we get ready for that, too?”
“We certainly can.”
Harvey’s Healthy Habits
I already knew some of the things on our list.
Wash our hands.
Soap and water help remove germs from our hands before they travel somewhere else.
Cover coughs and sneezes.
Tissues are great. Elbows work when a tissue isn’t nearby.
Get enough sleep.
I am extremely good at this one.
I can sleep on my bed.
I can sleep on the sofa.
I can sleep under Dad’s desk.
I can even sleep in the middle of—
“Harvey,” Mom said.
“Sorry. What was next?”
Eat foods that help fuel our bodies and drink plenty of water.
I knew about that, too.
“Anything else?”
“If we don’t feel well, we tell a grown-up,” Mom said.
“And sometimes we stay home?”
“That’s right. Resting can help us recover, and staying home when we’re sick can also help protect other people.”
I remembered that.
Taking care of ourselves can be one way we take care of other people.
There’s Something Else We Do
Dad looked at our list.
“We have one more thing to think about.”
“What?”
“Vaccines.”
I knew that word.
I get vaccines, too.
“Do we get the same ones?” I asked.
“No,” Mom said. “Dogs and people need different vaccines.”
That made sense.
I am a dog, after all.
Even if I occasionally think I should be allowed to sit at the dinner table.
“Vaccines help teach the body’s immune system how to recognize and fight certain diseases,” Mom explained.
“So what do kids do?”
“Their parents or caregivers talk with their healthcare professional about which vaccines are recommended for them and when they should receive them.”
“Like getting ready?”
“Exactly.”
I liked that.
Getting ready doesn’t mean nobody ever gets sick.
It means we do what we can to protect ourselves.
And some of those things help protect other people, too.
Ready for Fall
We looked at our list again.
Wash hands.
Cover coughs and sneezes.
Get enough sleep.
Eat a variety of foods that fuel our bodies.
Drink water.
Tell a grown-up when we don’t feel well.
Stay home and rest when we’re sick.
And make sure our families talk with our healthcare professionals about recommended vaccines.
“That seems like a lot,” I said.
Mom shook her head.
“Most of those are just healthy habits we practice all year.”
Oh.
She was right.
Flu season didn’t mean we had to be afraid.
It just reminded us to pay a little extra attention to taking care of ourselves and each other.
“Are we ready now?” I asked.
“I think so,” Dad said.
Excellent.
Because I had one more important fall activity on my list.
JUMP IN LEAVES.
I ran outside.
“Harvey!” Dad called.
I stopped.
He was holding something.
My raincoat.
Apparently, we were very ready for fall.
Love,
Harvey 🐾
Talk About It
- What changes did Harvey notice when fall arrived?
- What are some healthy habits Harvey’s family practices during flu season?
- Why is sleep important when we’re taking care of our bodies?
- What should you do if you start feeling sick?
- How can staying home when you’re sick help other people?
- What did Harvey learn about vaccines?
- Do dogs and children get the same vaccines?
- Which of Harvey’s healthy habits do you already practice?
A Note for Parents and Caregivers
Flu season offers families a natural opportunity to reinforce everyday habits that help children care for themselves and others.
Handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, adequate sleep, nutritious foods, hydration, and staying home when ill are practical habits children can begin learning at an early age. Rather than making young children fearful of germs or illness, emphasize the positive message that there are things we can do to help care for our bodies and our communities.
Vaccination is also an important part of influenza prevention. Recommendations can change over time and may differ according to a child’s age, health history, and individual circumstances. Parents and caregivers should discuss influenza vaccination and other recommended immunizations with their child’s healthcare professional.
Healthy With Harvey encourages families to use trusted pediatric sources for current vaccine information. The American Academy of Pediatrics provides regularly updated information for parents and caregivers through HealthyChildren.org.
Remember that prevention does not mean a child will never become ill. If illness occurs, children should not feel that they “failed”. Help them understand that everybody gets sick sometimes. Rest, appropriate care, and kindness are part of being healthy, too.