School is a place where children not only learn and make friends, but also come into contact with a variety of bacteria and viruses on a daily basis. Especially in the cold season or during flu epidemics, pathogens can quickly spread and temporarily put the whole family out of action. It is therefore very important to adhere to basic hygiene rules and raise children’s awareness. This blog post explains how to do this!
Everyday school life offers many points of contact where pathogens can be transmitted: in the playground at break time, in the classroom when exchanging pens or on a cell phone or tablet. Viruses and bacteria have an easy time spreading from one child to another at school. Colds, gastrointestinal illnesses or even flu are often transmitted through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or through the air. Although this cannot be completely prevented, hygiene measures can go some way to reducing the risk of infection – these include regular hand washing, avoiding touching the face and sneezing or coughing into the crook of the arm instead of into the air.
Washing your hands is one of the simplest and most effective ways to minimize the spread of disease. This has become clear once again during the coronavirus pandemic. Our hands constantly come into contact with germs – be it when touching door handles, banisters or shared toys. If we then touch our face, the pathogens can easily enter our body.
Studies show that regular, thorough hand washing can significantly reduce the risk of catching a cold or gastrointestinal illness. This is because by washing our hands thoroughly, we wash away many germs before they can enter the body. Washing your hands is therefore a simple but extremely effective way of protecting your children’s health at school.
There are certain moments in everyday (school) life when hand washing is particularly important. These include
Unfortunately, it is not enough to just quickly run your hands under running water. For thorough cleaning, children should always use soap and wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. An easy way to keep to the 20 seconds is to sing the song “Happy Birthday” twice – every child probably knows this.
When washing, children should make sure that they not only clean the palms of their hands, but also the spaces between the fingers, the fingertips and the thumbs. After soaping, hands should be rinsed thoroughly with water to remove all soap residue and dissolved germs. Finally, the hands should be dried with a clean towel or a disposable towel.
If parents and teachers anchor these routines in the children’s minds, this is a big and important step towards preventing infections and ensuring better health. By setting good examples and clear rules, parents and teachers can help to ensure that hygiene becomes an integral part of everyday school life. This not only creates a healthier environment, but also teaches children important life skills.
A place of retreat and well-being, a small realm for creativity and relaxation – the children’s room plays a central role in the everyday life of the little ones.
Innovation is the foundation for sustainable quality—especially when it comes to children’s health. We are all the more pleased that Mom’s Garden GmbH, the company behind inne® Kids, has recently been recognized as one of Germany’s most innovative medium-sized companies. This recognition demonstrates how important continuous development is for modern products and the trust of families.
