How to Raise a Healthy Child
in Spite of Being Surrounded by Germs!

How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Being Surrounded by Germs!

The time to teach your child about good hygiene and bad germs is when he is a toddler. Germs, of course, are everywhere, and one must not be too fanatical about avoiding all of them. Exposure to, and the resulting natural immunization against certain germs, bacteria and viruses is actually a good thing. A little dirt never hurt anyone after all! However, there are some practical, effective and basic ways to protect yourself and your child from the nastier ones.

OUTDOORS:

Plants:

If applicable where you live, make sure your child knows how to identify and avoid poison oak and ivy. Advise him never to eat the leaf or berry of a plant without your permission. Teach him to recognize the poisonous varieties of plants around your neighborhood and to avoid them

Insects:

Mosquitos carry some of the deadliest diseases on the planet. Make sure he knows how not to get bit (long sleeves and pants after dusk, repellent if necessary.) Same goes for spiders, bees and ticks. Not usually deadly, just nasty bites, and sometimes allergic reactions. Don’t teach fear, just respect and avoidance.

Animals:

Sandboxes are very fun for younger kids, but are also enticing to cats. Cat feces can be very harmful if ingested. All wild animals, living or dead, must not be touched. Even household pets such as chinchillas and reptiles carry mites and other things that should not be transferred from hand to mouth.

Insist that hands be thoroughly washed after outdoor play, after handling all animals, and before eating.

INDOORS:

Bathroom:

Toilet lids should always be closed, especially when flushing. A flush releases billions of particles of water (and whatever else was in the bowl) into the air surrounding the toilet. Think about that for a moment and vow never to leave the lid open again! Most bathrooms are fairly small, so these particles can cover virtually every surface. Toothbrushes and cups should not be left out on the sink for this reason.

Teach your child to always wash his hands after visiting the toilet, (even if only urinating), after coughing, sneezing or blowing his nose, and after handling waste products or trash. And parents, please, teach your boy not to spit! There is no more unsanitary and revolting display of poor manners than the vile act of spitting! Girls don’t spit and boys don’t need to either. Yes, I am making a generalization here, but it’s one that is almost always true. That goes for men too. Fathers, set an example for your sons.

Kitchen:

Did you know that most people’s kitchen sink is filthier than their toilet? So is their cutting board and kitchen floor. It’s true! Picture what goes into your sink and down the drain. Raw meat and blood, table scraps with saliva on them, moldy or spoiled food, and so on. Then, you fill the sink with water, place fresh vegetables in it and “wash” them before making a salad. Think about it. No food that falls into the sink should be consumed without thoroughly cooking it first. Swab samples of the average person’s kitchen sink routinely find e-coli, salmonella and other sickening (literally) bacteria.

For that same reason, you should have separate cutting boards for raw meat and produce. Never use the same board or utensils interchangeably or you will cross contaminate your food. Your child should know how to prepare and consume food in a safe manner.

Meat should always be well cooked. You may like your steak blood rare or enjoy raw oysters, but no child should be encouraged or allowed to eat rare or raw meat. Undercooked meat, including fish and shellfish and even eggs, is a major source of food-borne illness, and parasitic infestation such as tape worms. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are 76 million cases of food-borne illnesses each year in the United States, and over 320,000 cases are serious enough to require hospitalization.

Sponges and dish rags should be sterilized in bleach or replaced regularly, as they are a huge germ magnate and growth medium.

Kids need to be taught how to tell if food has gone bad by its appearance and smell. Cans should not have dents or be swollen, which can indicate the presence of botulism. Always wash the tops of soda cans before putting them to your lips, as particles of rat feces are commonly found on cans that have been stored in warehouses.

School:

Consider packing a small alcohol-gel bottle in your kid’s lunchbox and encourage her to use it whenever she is unable to wash her hands properly. Tell her to avoid sharing her food with other kids, especially food like popcorn which many hands touch, as you never know who has washed their hands after going to the toilet and who has not.

Teach your child that public (this includes school) toilets are places to be careful. Germs can live on surfaces like toilet seats, handles, sink handles and door knobs for over 2 hours. Teach girls to squat when urinating or to use the paper protectors. Always flush with their feet to avoid touching the flusher and having their faces over the bowl when it releases its billions of particles into the air. Public toilets rarely have lids. Also instruct her to use the paper towel she dried her hands on to open the door knob when exiting the restroom. There is no point in washing your hands and then touching a contaminated surface.

These are just a few of the most common sources of germs your child will encounter. While I emphasize, again, not to be paranoid about every little germ, some of them can be quite nasty and even life threatening. Developing a habit of good personal hygiene will help your kids to grow up healthier. You will be amazed at how many fewer colds and illnesses your kids will come with when they follow these simple tips. And you will be closer to achieving your goal of how to raise a healthy child in spite of….you fill in the rest!

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