As children reach preschool age, they are more susceptible to viruses and germs that can make them sick. Lets face it, kids don’t have the best hygiene habits. Kids who wash their hands four times a day take 30 percent more sick days than those who don’t. So it is important to teach them at an early age why it is important to wash hands.

Hands should be washed for 15 seconds, and if you think about it, I bet the average kid is good for about 5 seconds. So it is important to re-enforce the 15 second wash. I have been in rest rooms and seen adults rinse their hands without even using the soap. And since children copy what their parents do, the best way to help them is by doing it yourself.

And something that is really important when kids reach school age, or even attend day care - Don’t send your kids to school sick! It’s not fair to the children and staff. Sometimes this can be inconvenient, especially if you are a working parent. But is very important. When my daughter was in second grade, she had a child in her class that was sick often. She would come to school with fevers and vomited in the class one time. Her parents worked and did not have a back up baby sitter and could not take the time off work. My daughter was sick more that year and missed more school than any other year.

As a teacher, you can remind parents to keep children home when they are sick. Hand sanitizers in the classroom may also be very helpful. Having the children wash their hands before lunch and snack time is also highly recommended. Plenty of tissues at the ready. Remember, the kids are sharing everything in the room, including their germs. Some easy rules will go a long way to help them stay healthier.