How To Decrease The Risk of Spreading Germs For Preschoolers
It’s easier said than done to reduce preschoolers’ risk of spreading germs. This is due to children’s natural curiosity and desire to comprehend their environment. Therefore, if you instruct your children not to spread germs, they will likely be curious about what germs are and why it is harmful to do so. After all, the message child nurseries typically receive is that sharing is good!
KidsHealth.org provides suggestions for presenting the idea of germs in an age-appropriate manner.The article states that germs are “small and sneaky” because “they creep into our bodies without being noticed.”Most of the time, we don’t know what germs we have until one or more of them makes us feel bad:possibly sneezing, fever, coughing, or vomiting. Germs can also make people feel tired and less energetic.
The National Library of Medicine explains that touching someone who has germs—for example, by hugging and kissing them—or inhaling the air after they cough or sneeze can spread germs.You can also “catch” germs by touching your nose, mouth, or eyes with germ-covered surfaces and objects.Among other possibilities, animal bites and diaper changing can also spread germs.
How to Explain the Process to Your Children When You Come into Contact With Germs
Doctors can do tests to see what germs are making you sick and give you advice on what to do, like taking medicine, drinking water, and getting some rest, but it’s better if you don’t get sick at all. Therefore, you don’t want to pass on any germs you have or get any from your friends or family.
How to Stop Germs from Spreading offers advice on what to teach your kids. First, show your children how to thoroughly scrub their hands for at least twenty seconds with soap and running water. Some songs that can keep your kids occupied while they scrub are suggested by one healthcare system:
Make your hands nice and clean by washing them a lot. If you’re happy and you know it, wash your hands before eating, touching pets, playing outside, or in any other situation where germs could spread.Instead of assuming that a child already knows, adults will have to explain when a new situation could spread germs.
Also, show your kids how to cover their mouths and noses when they cough or sneeze.Using a tissue (and throwing away the used ones!) may be necessary.or sneezing or coughing into their elbowsWash their hands afterward.
Children should not be around sick people, according to another healthcare system.Again, while they are still learning how germs spread, this may not be obvious to them.In addition, make it clear to your children that they should not share a cup or eating utensil with anyone, regardless of whether or not that person appears to be ill.
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States recommends using alcohol-based hand sanitizer as a last resort in the absence of soap and water.Although they don’t kill as many germs as soap and water, hand sanitizers do.Have your children wash their hands with soap and water as soon as they are capable of doing so.