Back-to-school time is filled with excitement, a few jitters and a chance for your kids to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. It’s also the time of year when their exposure to germs (viruses and bacteria) kicks into high gear, raising their risk for getting sick.
Frequent handwashing is one of our best defenses against getting sick — from pink eye to COVID-19. It’s important to teach your kids good hand hygiene habits (here’s a handy guide) and to monitor their handwashing to be sure they’re washing the right way. Teach your child to cough and sneeze into their bent elbow instead of their hands.
While it’s always a good idea to keep your child home from school if they aren’t feeling well, it’s especially important now. If your child is sick, keeping them home not only allows them to recover, but it also keeps them from spreading germs to others.