Parenting Pearls

Health and Hygiene

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

It’s that time of year again – cold and flu season! I know we are not the only family that feels like we’ve been engaged in a continuous battle against viruses these past few weeks. I’ve heard it from parents and medical professionals alike – everything is going around.

While there are many means we have to treat the various ailments children can get, prevention frequently makes all those steps superfluous. It’s much more pleasant to not get sick than it is to be up at night with a little one crying in pain.

While we can’t prevent everything, a little hygiene and cleanliness can go a long way in keeping many germs contained. As clean as we may be personally, children aren’t known for their good hygiene. Kids pick their noses, cough openly, and then share their drinks. Little ones, especially, play close together, and it’s easy for germs to run amok through a large group.

Despite children being a germ’s dream, a few simple steps can help limit the number of illnesses rotating throughout our classrooms. I don’t expect this article to contain much parents don’t already know; it’s simply to serve as a reminder of a basic but important topic. Please note that I’m not a healthcare professional and any questions should be directed at your child’s healthcare team.

The Extra Challenge

Kids are a breeding ground for illness. They don’t naturally have the same need for body space that adults do so they congregate very closely. Even lice can take advantage of this body proximity to travel. Children run and roll together, sharing everything as they do.

They are less aware of their actions so they will cough openly, oblivious to the fact that they’re doing so directly into someone else’s face. For similar reasons, they will drink from any cup or share anyone’s snack.

They don’t have the same self-care skills we’ve had time to develop. They may be unable to wash themselves appropriately. The littlest ones can’t even blow their own dripping noses.

Avoid Sharing

While sharing is certainly a great middah, kids should be discouraged from sharing food, drinks, and personal utensils. This applies at home and in school. If something is going around the family, then plate or serve a snack rather than permit each hand to grab out of the same bag.

Cups, plates, and utensils should be washed with hot, soapy water between uses, not simply rinsed. Keeping food and drinks away from the edge of the table will make it harder for toddlers to grab a sibling’s food as they walk by.

Clean Hands

By default, I assume kids have dirty hands. This is based on my years of experience and seeing where their hands go. It’s a neis kids are as healthy and robust as they are. Rather than rely on miracles, we need to teach correct handwashing.

Telling a young child to “go wash your hands” is vague and will result in haphazard hygiene. It’s more effective to demonstrate and wash alongside your child, being clear about each step. Show how to pump out the soap, demonstrating the correct amount. Kids are known for using microscopic quantities or the entire bottle – usually the bottle gets emptied. Demonstrate how to wash the full hand, including the palm, back of the hand, fingers (including thumbs), and between the fingers. They should also learn how to thoroughly rinse off the soap and where to dry their hands (not on their shirt, pants, or drip dry over the floor). It can help to use words to cue them and help them remember each step.

As chashuv as netilas yadayim and negel vaaser are, rinsing hands, even with a cup, is not sufficient after the bathroom or to prevent the spread of illness. Kids certainly should wash as halachically mandated, but they shouldn’t neglect washing for physical cleanliness, too.

Hand sanitizer has become very popular, especially after the emergence of COVID. According to the CDC, hand sanitizer is not as effective as washing with soap and water. It may be convenient onthe-go and when washing facilities aren’t available, but it’s not a full replacement. Demonstrate to your child how to correctly use hand sanitizer, when needed, and supervise them initially. Use caution with dispensers and make sure they don’t accidentally squirt it towards their eyes.

Hand sanitizer is not appropriate for the youngest of hands. There’s a serious risk of accidental alcohol poisoning, chas v’shalom, if a small body ingests even minor quantities of sanitizer. Ask your child’s healthcare provider at what age it’s appropriate for them to use hand sanitizer along with the correct quantity to use. It’s important to remember, in general, that hand sanitizer contains high levels of alcohol and can be a hazard for those at-risk from abusing it.

Keep Germs Contained

Little humans are very effective spreaders of germs. Kids need to be shown how to cough and sneeze properly, so they won’t do so directly into the face of their peers. Children should be encouraged to wash their hands after blowing (or picking) their nose and to discard tissues into the trash.

It’s wonderful that we (usually) have fever reducers and pain medications available. Most likely, your child’s pediatrician will guide you in the use of these over-thecounter products. While they may make your child more comfortable, they don’t remove the illness. A sick child who is temporarily fever-free is no less contagious. Just because your child is bouncing around 20 minutes after dosing doesn’t mean they’re back to normal.

My mother, an experienced educator who taught for decades, would tell me that it was well known within the schools that a child would walk into class looking fine but start getting feverish closer to lunch. Inevitably, when asked, the child would look surprised that the nurse somehow knew their parents had given them cherry or grape flavored syrup before they left for school.

Please keep your youngster home and away from other children until their illness is gone. I know it’s hard for a child to miss work and need to make it up. I understand that it can be complicated for a parent to miss work for the day. But it’s important to remember that one sick child can infect multiple other children who will now have to miss class and whose parents may have difficulties staying home from work. As challenging as it may be, consider it a chessed to your child, their classmates, and their parents to give your child the time needed to recuperate at home. Additionally, there are children and school staff with a variety of medical conditions – many of whom may be immunocompromised. We all need to do our part to keep others safe.

Our most important effort, as always, is to daven. Ultimately, good health – like everything else – is divinely ordained. May Hashem bless all of klal Yisroel with good health all year long!