Now that your kids are headed back to school and are hanging out with their friends in a close environment, the odds of germs getting passed around is high. According to the Mayo Clinic, young children cared for in groups outside the home are at greater risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, which can easily spread to family members and other contacts, so getting them into good hand washing habits is super important.
One of the best defenses from getting sick and spreading illnesses like colds, pinkeye and strep throat, is frequent hand washing. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but there are a few things you can do to make sure your family is washing their hands effectively.
Try to use warm water when available. Any kind of soap is just fine, but we love Noodle & Boo’s Healthy Hand Wash. It’s important to get a good lather going and hand washing should last 20 seconds. A good trick for young kids is to sing the “ABC’s” twice through or the “Happy Birthday”song two times. When you’re watching your kids wash their hands make sure they get the back of their hands and in between their fingers. It’s also best to use clean disposable towels or air dryers.
If soap and water is not available, hand sanitizer is a good solution. Make sure the sanitizer you are using is at least 60% alcohol. Apply enough sanitizer to get your hands wet and rub together. Cover all the surfaces of your hands and rub for about 25 seconds, or until your hands have dried.
A simple thing like washing your hands could save you some stressful days and nights!
