When your kids head back to school each fall, you probably look forward to the excitement that this time of year brings. However, one of the major concerns for many parents is the germs that tend to spread quickly between kids in the classrooms. Help your kids avoid getting sick as they head back to school with a few simple tricks.

Keep Hands Clean

Image via Flickr by Sean Winters

When someone in a class sneezes, those germs can spread very quickly. That student could easily touch the pencil sharpener, white board marker, doorknob, and other shared items within few minutes. The best way to avoid germs is to wash your hands often, but this isn’t always appealing to kids. Keep hand sanitizer in their backpacks and teach them to use it often. You can also talk to your children about effective hand-washing, which includes scrubbing soap all over the hands and fingernails for at least 20 seconds, then using a paper towel to turn off the faucet.

Healthy Habits

When your children don’t get enough rest or aren’t receiving adequate nutrition, the immune system can’t fight germs as effectively. During the summer the routine often changes, resulting in later nights and poor eating habits. Before school starts, help your kids get back into their routines with regular bedtimes, healthy meals together, plenty of physical activity and better hydration. All of these tricks will help encourage a healthy immune system, which means a lower chance of getting sick.

Avoid Sick Friends

According to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids at school tend to have at least eight colds a year. When your child’s friend is sick, he or she may not realize that germs can spread quickly. Teach your kids to steer clear of classmates who are coughing or sneezing. Be sure they also know to cover their own coughs and sneezes to limit the spread of germs. Another trick is to avoid sharing lip balm and drinks with their friends. If your child is ill, keep him or her home from school.

Visit the Doctor

Your child’s pediatrician or other healthcare provider has a recommended schedule for check-ups and immunizations throughout his or her adolescence. These guidelines come from years of research and analysis, so be sure to keep regular appointments and stick to the schedule. Immunizations can make a huge difference in avoiding illness, especially serious diseases that have made recent comebacks in schools around the country. If your child does become ill and you aren’t able to get an appointment, use Curely.co for instant access to a certified health professional who can help.

Clean School Supplies

It may surprise you to learn that your child’s backpack can carry a lot of germs and bacteria. Kids often set their backpacks down while using the restroom or in other germy areas, so washing it regularly can limit bacteria growth.

So, when it comes time for your kids to go back to school, you can help them avoid the “classroom cold” and other illnesses by using good germ etiquette and strengthening their immune systems through healthy habits.