Do: Wash Hands
Do: Use Your Own
Especially when it comes to school-aged kids and teens who play sports, make sure they understand the importance of keeping some things to themselves. “My son has this way of drinking from someone's water bottle: He calls it a waterfall, so he avoids putting his mouth on the bottle, but kids need to know that their germs are already in the water and those germs spread,” Reichert says.
Same goes for cosmetics, so remind your daughter not to pass them to her friends. “Pink eye can be spread from mascara, and lip gloss can spread cold sores,” Reichert says.
Don't: (Always) Share
While sharing has its place, kids need to be careful during cold and flu season when sharing just about anything. “My UPS driver taught me never to touch his pen when I sign for a delivery. Those stylists are full of germs,” Reichert says. “Children need to start learning these types of lessons early. By sharing at school, they could be sharing an illness. I don't recommend not sharing, but they need to be aware of where germs live and spread.”
Do: Teach Tissue Etiquette
Clean tissues are like flu-season gold: Teach kids to always have one on hand. “Little ones are notorious for wiping their noses on sleeves,” Reichert says. “Make sure they learn to travel with tissues, especially in cold and flu season.”
On the other hand, kids should learn to toss used tissues stat. “Never let your children leave used tissues laying around,” Reichert says. “Make them get up and go to the trash with the dirty tissue—don't do it for them.”
Do: Make DIY Sanitizing Wipes
Get kids in on good health habits, and create a DIY flu-season project. “Have your children make up their own sanitizing wipes,” Reichert says. “Instead of using wipes containing chemicals, mix up a batch of your own with white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, tea-tree oil and even some rubbing alcohol. You can use an airtight container, and put some high-quality paper towels into the mixture, then place them in the container or even a Ziploc baggie. They can take these wipes to school to disinfect their desks and their lunch area.”
Do: Wash Produce
Let your kids help you prep in the kitchen. Have them wash their fruits and veggies before they eat them. “Next time you go to the market, show your children how you rinse your fruits and vegetables so that you remove any chemical residue that may be on them,” Reichert says. Explain that although they can’t see germs and chemicals, they're still there.
Do: Practice Good Potty Habits
Listen up, mom! If your kids are potty training, you should instill sanitizing habits with each lesson—for public bathrooms and private ones. “Teach them to put down the toilet seat and cover before they flush,” Reichert says. “Small particles of water containing germs can get into the air when the toilet is flushed. If your child is older, teach them never to look down into the public toilet when flushing. Try to teach them to use their foot and turn away from the toilet as soon as they can.”
