Back to School = Germs

It has already happened. Three kids were out sick from my kid's classroom.  I know that means the germs are coming -- so it is time to get ready to fight back. School season seems to make the germs stronger. As parents, we can sometimes feel that there is no way to combat the germs the kids encounter while at school. But there are lots of ways to help our kids stay strong in the face of germs.

1. Eat healthier foods to promote wellness fruits, veggies, and proteins are great try to cut out or lower foods filled with fats and sugars since they cause the system to slow down and not be able to combat the germs as they are introduced.
2. Make sure that your kids had a solid sleep routine. The hours of sleep can make a difference in how an immune system rebuilds and cares for itself. Try to promote good sleep with a regular bedtime routine.
3. HAND WASHING! We have heard this one a million times and it seems like a no-brainer. But honestly, that is because it is so true. Germs come from the surfaces we touch every day. Then we touch our face and the germs latch right onto the mucus membrane and implant themselves. Washing regularly minimizes this. Make sure your kids wash well, with warm water, and soap. The most important part is to scrub hard. Make sure they create lots of friction to the entire hand (even between fingers and under nails!) Supplying them with hand sanitizer at school makes a huge difference too!
4.  Do not share ANYTHING!! Sharing food, food utensils, and other gear at school is a very quick way to contract germs. If you must share balls, books, etc at school then be sure to properly wash hands after.
5. Washing backpacks and lunchboxes periodically make a difference as well. Lunchboxes can be washed with some warm water and soap and left to air-dry. So can most backpacks. You can also use sanitized wipes or essential oil sprays like Thieves spray.
6. Try to eliminate stress or minimize it by keeping the kids active. Give them lots of outdoor time. They can play, burn off energy, get fresh air, and vitamin D from the sun. It can also aid them in getting better sleep!

These all seem like simple solutions (and you must be thinking they won't work, or I already do most of these) but by keeping these small routines in our day we can help make this germ season a little less yucky.