Back-to-school Great Time for Some Healthy Education
For many kids, back-to-school is a great time to learn about sharing with one another. For parents, this is a great time to discuss things that shouldn’t be shared – bugs and germs, for example. Parents need to be vigilant and do some at-home health education with their kids before the first school bell rings.
“Preventable illness spreads like wildfire during the school year,” said Toby Hamilton, M.D., CEO of Emerus. “This is the time parents need to educate kids on washing their hands and help them understand why they shouldn’t share things like combs and brushes with their friends.”
Kids should wash their hands before eating and after using the restroom. A good rule of thumb for the length of washing time is to hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice to themselves while scrubbing and rinsing. A sanitizing gel can also be used, if parents teach kids proper usage of the gel and pack a small bottle in their child’s backpack. By reducing germs, kids can have a hand in reducing epidemics like the flu or other viral and bacterial illnesses.
Another school-year epidemic is lice. This bug that lives on the scalp spreads rapidly when children share combs or brushes with each other, or braid one another’s hair. Teach children that hair and hair products are hands-off, no matter how good the friend!
“Parents can greatly influence their child’s hand-washing routine and how they interact with their classmates,” said Dr. Hamilton. “Teaching them good hygiene habits is one of the most important things they can learn to stay healthy now and as they grow up.”