27 Days Till School: 5 Tips for Keeping Children Healthy

Each day of the month leading up to the first day of school, Patch will bring you useful back-to-school information, tricks, trends and tips.

It's a well-known fact that schools are germ factories.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agrees, saying on its website: "Schools inherently foster the transmission of infections from person to person because they are a group setting in which people are in close contact and share supplies and equipment."

Add to that the fact that children aren't always the best at remembering to wash their hands, and they sometimes won't think twice about sharing chapstick or lip gloss. And don't even get us started on PDA (public displays of affection) in the hallways. There's a reason they call mononucleosis "the kissing disease."

But fear not — Patch has five easy tips your children can use to stay healthier this school year, courtesy of the CDC:

1. Get vaccinated. Just what every child wants to hear, right? First, there's the flu shot. According to the CDC, "The best ways to prevent seasonal flu is to get a seasonal flu vaccination each year and follow proper respiratory and hand hygiene etiquette." Also, all eligible children should be up to date on all of their vaccinations — not just the flu shot, says the CDC.
2. Wash your hands. And sing a song while you're at it. The CDC recommends that "when you wash your hands — with soap and warm water — that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. That's about the same time it takes to sing the 'Happy Birthday' song twice."
3. Cover your cough. The CDC recommends that you always sneeze into a tissue, and "if you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands." Then, of course, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
4. Eat healthfully. According to fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov, "Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases." The CDC adds, "Fruits and vegetables also provide essential vitamins and minerals, fiber and other substances that are important for good health." French fries and candy can't do that.
5. Get plenty of rest. According to the CDC, children 5-10 years old require 10-11 hours of sleep every night, while adolescents and teenagers 10-17 years old require 8.5-9.25 hours of sleep a night. Inadequate sleep can negatively affect concentration and cause children to fall asleep in school, and chronic sleep deprivation is linked to other chronic diseases later in life. For sleep tips for children and more information, visit sleepforkids.org. 

Countdown to School

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