Vitamin D is a nutrient your child's body needs for building and maintaining their healthy bones as they grow. That's because their bodies can only absorb calcium, the primary component of bone, when vitamin D is present. Vitamin D also regulates many other cellular functions in your body. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties support immune health, muscle function and brain cell activity – all essential things needed to get your child through a busy school day.

Vitamin D isn't naturally found in many school foods or packed lunch boxes, but younger children can also get it from fortified milk & cereal, older kids from fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines along with fruits and vegetablets. Our children's bodies also make vitamin D when direct sunlight converts a chemical in your skin into an active form of the vitamin (calciferol). But due to school lunch breaks being short and sun tan cream being applied prior to school in the hotter months, obtaining vitamin D sometimes is not possible.

The amount of vitamin D your skin makes depends on many factors – including the time of day, season, latitude and your skin pigmentation. Depending on where you live and your lifestyle, vitamin D production might decrease or be completely absent during the winter months. Sunscreen, while important to prevent skin cancer, also can decrease vitamin D production.

If your suspect your child is not getting enough vitamin D, especially if they are picking up colds or feeling drained or tired, a simple blood test can check the levels of vitamin D in their blood. Our kids' multigummies packed with 12 essential vitamins and minerals will also help fight off any nasties now your child is back to school.