Daycare exposes your child to numerous germs, viruses, and illnesses, so it is important that you teach them habits that will keep them healthy. Considering the flu season is quickly approaching, ensuring your child follow these healthy habits is imperative for not only their health but also your family’s health. Here are a few habits your young child should learn to reduce their risk of the flu.
Proper Hand Washing
Most children are taught to wash their hands at a young age, but they may not be following the guidelines needed to kill the flu-causing germs. Proper hand washing is the most effective way to reduce the risk of germs, bacteria, and viruses that spread through schools.
Your child should wet his or her hands under the sink faucet and then add soap. They should scrub the soapy water all over their hands and in between each finger vigorously for around 20 seconds. Or, for about the time it takes to sing the “happy birthday” song. Once the song is complete, they should rinse their hands with warm water.
Make sure your child washes their hands after they use the bathroom and before they eat snacks and meals. They should also wash their hands when they arrive home.
Proper Coughing and Sneezing
An enormous amount of germs and viruses are spread by just coughing and sneezing in a daycare center. If every parent teaches their child the proper way to cough and sneeze, children and staff will have less risk of catching colds or developing the flu.
Teach your child to cough and sneeze into their arms instead of their hands. They should bend their elbow and move their arm, so they cough and sneeze directly into the inside part of their elbow.
Using this technique will reduce the number of germs on hands and in the air, which can reduce the risk of others becoming ill.
Set Good Examples
Last, but not least, set a good example for your child. Asking or demanding your child to do something may just create more stress and confusion.
Make sure they see you wash your hands regularly and cough or sneeze into a tissue or your arm.
Your child will see this behavior and then begin to mimic it. Seeing and learning these habits will help them at home and when they are away from you at school.
Preventing sicknesses such as the common cold or the flu is possible even at school. To learn more about keeping your child healthy when they are in daycare, contact the Heritage Learning Center in the McKinney area at (972) 782-4464.
Heritage Learning Center | Daycare McKinney | https://hlc.info/
