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• be your child's champion
• managing asthma attacks
• administering medicine
• avoiding triggers
• lifestyle changes
• tracking your progress

avoiding triggers

Trigger-proofing your home

Make sure that your home, or anyplace your child spends a lot of time, is clean -- keeping dust to a minimum and getting rid of mold spores, animal dander, or anything else that adds particles to the air. You'll want to thoroughly clean once a week and ensure that your child is not in the room when you are vacuuming, dusting, or using any cleaning agents.

• Get rid of carpeting and heavy drapes if possible.
• Vacuum with a high-efficiency filter.
• Wash sheets, blankets and any soft toys in hot water.
• Encase pillows, mattresses and box springs with allergen-proof, zippered covers.
• Dust with a damp cloth.
• Use an anti-mold cleaner (or a 10 percent bleach solution) and do what you can to eliminate mold by fixing leaky pipes, repairing damaged roofing, and making sure the basement and crawl space stay dry.
• Use roach baits or traps or have your home sprayed with insecticide.
• Keep pets off the furniture, out of your car, and out of your child's bedroom.
• Give your pet a bath once a week.
• Keep litter boxes out of rooms that your child frequents.
• Replace air conditioner and heat filters regularly, and use air conditioning when possible.
• Use a dehumidifier in any other damp part of the house that might collect mold.
• Do not keep indoor plants in the bedroom.
• Use a high-efficiency air filter in your child's bedroom.
• Do not smoke in the house or near your child.
• Do not use perfumes or other highly scented products.

Avoiding emotional triggers

Anger, anxiety, prolonged crying and even hard laughing, can trigger your child's asthma. Let your child know that their emotions can trigger an attack and work with them to reduce upsets as much as possible. Talk with your child often, try to keep a regular schedule, make sure they get enough sleep, and work together to keep their life as stress-free as possible. You might also try some relaxing breathing exercises or other stress-relieving techniques.

Managing physical activity

Talk to your healthcare provider about activities that are appropriate for your child, and if needed, the proper medication.

Tracking your child's diet

You may also find that certain foods may trigger your child's asthma symptoms. The asthmatic reaction to food allergies is most common in children as the body releases histamines, which cause inflammation. You should watch for patterns or any symptoms after your child eats certain foods. Here are some of the most common food allergens:

• Peanuts
• Shellfish
• Soy

Venturing forth into the wider world

Here are some steps you can take to watch for any outdoor conditions that may trigger his or her asthma:

• Make it a daily habit to check on pollen counts and other air quality indicators that might trigger your child's asthma. Websites, like weather.com, list these air quality indicators.
• Limit outdoor activity when pollen counts are highest -- in the early morning until mid-day.
• Keep the windows closed when there is a lot of pollen in the air, and use an air conditioner.
• Have your child bathe or shower after outdoor activities to remove pollen from their hair and clothing.