Article: 6 easy ways to beat winter colds: your child's best defense against bugs and viruses is a good offense. Boost her immune system and she'll be less likely to catch whatever's going around. Here's our expert-devised game plan.(keeping them healthy)

1 Fight stress with fun.

Studies have shown that stress weakens the immune system. "And this time of year has inherent stressors such as the darkness, the cold, and the fact that kids can't get outside to play as much," says Kathleen Hall, founder of the Stress Institute outside Clarkesville, GA. Help your child relieve stress by making him laugh, singing together, or encouraging him to write in a journal. Devise a soothing mantra--like "I am strong"--that he can say if he feels stressed.

2 Keep it clean.

"Hand washing with regular soap is the most effective thing you can do to prevent infections," says Mary Ann LoFrumento, M.D., author of ...

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