As cooler weather approaches, parents of children in day care Brookline, family daycare in Brookline, and childcare centers in Brookline know that cold and flu season is not far behind.  When groups of kids are in close proximity to each other in enclosed surroundings, germs spread quickly. What parents might not realize, however, is that there are some very simple steps such as washing hands on a regular basis, keeping a portable hand cleanser handy, and using proper sneezing and coughing techniques, that can reduce the incidence of colds, flu and other illnesses at their child’s Brookline childcare center.

Frequent Hand Washing

Number one on the list of prevention measures when your child is at his daycare in Brookline is washing hands—frequently. That is, before and after meals, before and after toileting, after nose blowing, after playing, upon arrival at the childcare center in Brookline, when leaving family daycare in Brookline, and when arriving back home. Antibacterial soap is fine, but plain old soap and water works just as well. The important thing to remember is the duration or length of hand washing. Caregivers at large Brookline childcare centers as well as smaller family daycare in Brookline should make hand washing a fun activity for children by encouraging them to count to 20, sing the alphabet, recite a poem or even make funny faces in the mirror while an adult counts to 20.

Hand Sanitizers and Cleansers

Hand sanitizers and cleansers are a terrific option when kids are on the go, especially when they’re attending daycare in Brookline. Although they contain alcohol as the main germ-killing ingredient, hand sanitizers for kids are generally mild and won’t dry their skin too much. Keep one in your child’s backpack, in her cubby at her childcare center in Brookline, in your purse, and in the car.

Proper Techniques for Sneezing and Coughing

It used to be that people coughed into their hands to prevent the airborne spread of germs, now experts universally recommend coughing into the crook of the elbow—preferably one with a fabric sleeve on it, the reason being that germs can’t live in fabric for very long. Coughing into the hands allows germs to pass from hands to door knobs, light switches, and of course toys that your child is playing with at his family daycare in Brookline.

And while these are great tips for preventing the spread of germs when your child is at her childcare center in Brookline, it’s important for parents to remember that staying healthy by getting enough sleep and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables are your child’s first defense against illness.