Kids have a weaker immune system than adults and are prone to get sick easily – so it is essential to take precaution and protect them from germs. Germs can come from the unlikeliest of places and they are present everywhere.
Children have a knack for getting their hands into everything; in order to protect them from germs, here are some tips:
- Immunization
It is a rule of thumb when you have little kids: get them immunized as soon as possible. You never know what is going around in the air and they would be the first ones to catch it if they have not taken their immune shots. Don’t wait around for them to get sick and then get them inoculated. Children as young as 6 months should be vaccinated early on because prevention is better than cure.
- Wash hands
Let kids get used to washing their hands before/after every meal or playing an activity. They should also wash their hands after touching their shoes or playing with pets. Using an antibacterial soap every time they wash hands should be mandatory because it ensures that its completely clean.
- Make bath time a staple
Taking a shower or bath should be their everyday routine. You can set up whatever time is feasible for both of you. If they are little and you have to bathe them yourself, then wash every part of their body gently but thoroughly. Once they are older, they should be able to bathe everyday on their own. Sometimes even twice a day, if they have been playing outside in the heat. Cut their nails and don’t let them grow long. Scrub between the fingers and behind the ears as well for a thorough clean up.
- Give kids a hand sanitizer to carry
Give kids a small hand sanitizer bottle that they can keep in their bags and take to school. You never know when they might need it. The school bathrooms are not exactly germ free so even after washing their hands, they should use high quality hand sanitizer.
- Sharing is caring but not for personal items
We often tell our kids that sharing is caring but there are parameters to this rule. There are certain things you just can’t share like lip balms, food and drink, cosmetics etc. If they are sharing stationary with their friends, then they should wash their hands afterwards because you never know what germs they are bringing with them.
Teach your kids the importance of cleanliness because whatever they learn from you in their formative years will set the foundations of cleanliness even as they grow up. Wishing you a relatively germ-free childhood!