Win the Germ War

Teach your kids to always wash their hands after using the bathroom and before eating—without exception. “Fecal-oral transmission of vomiting and diarrhea illnesses is how they spread,” says Seattle-based pediatrician Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson. “This really should be a habit. We touch our faces constantly, hundreds of times a day, and when we eat we potentially can transfer germs right into our mouths.”

Think of surfaces that kids touch daily, and get your children to avoid them. “Teach your children to avoid water fountains or bubblers,” green-cleaning expert Leslie Reichert says. “I learned that germs are all over the water fountains at schools, so I recommend having your children take water bottles and leave them in their desk or locker.”

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Especially when it comes to school-aged kids and teens who play sports, make sure they understand the importance of keeping some things to themselves. “My son has this way of drinking from someone's water bottle: He calls it a waterfall, so he avoids putting his mouth on the bottle, but kids need to know that their germs are already in the water and those germs spread,” Reichert says.

Same goes for cosmetics, so remind your daughter not to pass them to her friends. “Pink eye can be spread from mascara, and lip gloss can spread cold sores,” Reichert says.

While sharing has its place, kids need to be careful during cold and flu season when sharing just about anything. “My UPS driver taught me never to touch his pen when I sign for a delivery. Those stylists are full of germs,” Reichert says. “Children need to start learning these types of lessons early. By sharing at school, they could be sharing an illness. I don't recommend not sharing, but they need to be aware of where germs live and spread.”

Clean tissues are like flu-season gold: Teach kids to always have one on hand. “Little ones are notorious for wiping their noses on sleeves,” Reichert says. “Make sure they learn to travel with tissues, especially in cold and flu season.”

On the other hand, kids should learn to toss used tissues stat. “Never let your children leave used tissues laying around,” Reichert says. “Make them get up and go to the trash with the dirty tissue—don't do it for them.”

Get kids in on good health habits, and create a DIY flu-season project. “Have your children make up their own sanitizing wipes,” Reichert says. “Instead of using wipes containing chemicals, mix up a batch of your own with white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, tea-tree oil and even some rubbing alcohol. You can use an airtight container, and put some high-quality paper towels into the mixture, then place them in the container or even a Ziploc baggie. They can take these wipes to school to disinfect their desks and their lunch area.”

Let your kids help you prep in the kitchen. Have them wash their fruits and veggies before they eat them. “Next time you go to the market, show your children how you rinse your fruits and vegetables so that you remove any chemical residue that may be on them,” Reichert says. Explain that although they can’t see germs and chemicals, they're still there.

Listen up, mom! If your kids are potty training, you should instill sanitizing habits with each lesson—for public bathrooms and private ones. “Teach them to put down the toilet seat and cover before they flush,” Reichert says. “Small particles of water containing germs can get into the air when the toilet is flushed. If your child is older, teach them never to look down into the public toilet when flushing. Try to teach them to use their foot and turn away from the toilet as soon as they can.”

It can be tempting to think you'll fight through illness to keep up with your busy schedule, but don't. You would want your kids to stay home and get well, wouldn't you? You should, too. "Be a good example to your children, and stay home when you are sick," Reichert says. "There are so many people that need to be the 'office hero' and go into work sick. Show your children that they are taking care of themselves and others by staying home when they get a virus or cold."

The littlest people need the most care when it comes to germ protection. Remind your older children of this if you have a baby in the family. “Everyone who holds a baby should wash hands before doing so,” Swanson says. “Infants are more prone to infection and more vulnerable to more severe infections, especially this time of year. Be nuts about making sure people follow that rule. Hand sanitizer is great, and should be in the nursery and next to the rocking chair.”

Did your mom tell you to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze? It’s a great rule. Just make sure kids don’t use their hands. “Teach kids to cough into the corner of their elbow,” says Swanson. “Not only helpful in stopping spread of infection, it’s polite, to boot.”

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