It's back to school time and that means reading, writing and… germs? It may be a good time to brush up on the ABC's of protecting your kids. What you do now may help your kids stay healthier throughout the school year. The latest in this morning’s "What's New in School: Beating the Bug".
It's off to the beach again, a few more days to build sandcastles and hunt for sea shells. But next week it's back on that yellow bus and off to school and along with new pencils and books will come plenty of germs.
Amy Sachs, Mother
"Kids are going to go to school, they're going to get sick, they're going to pick up things."
That's why Amy Sachs makes sure her kids take a daily multi-vitamim, especially since they're not the best of eaters.
Amy Sachs, Mother
"It's a little added protection that I don't think that they're getting."
That's a good place to start, but experts say you also have to make sure your kids get enough sleep, exercise and wash their hands.
Dr. Iain Fraser, Massachusetts General Hospital
"Promoting good hand washing is absolutely critical and I don't think it's possible to overstate that at all."
Before that school bell rings, vaccinations should also be up to date. Check with your doctor on specifics, but most first graders should have had vaccines for:
Dr. Iain Fraser, Massachusetts General Hospital
"Parents tend to forget that these diseases can be very, very severe and can lead to significant morbidity and even death."
It's important to think about a flu shot too. It's recommended that for children between the ages of six and 23 months, but it's not a bad idea for their older siblings, especially if they're in daycare.
Dr. Iain Fraser, Massachusetts General Hospital
"The daycare environment is a great environment for germs, I think that's germ heaven in many ways."
But Dr. Fraser says that is not necessarily a bad thing.
Dr. Iain Fraser, Massachusetts General Hospital
"There's some interesting data that suggests that children, who are exposed to a lot of germs in the environment early on in life, are less likely to develop allergies later on."
For now Amy's biggest concern is plenty of sunscreen. But next week it will be early bedtimes and veggies.
Still she realizes that she can only do so much.
Amy Sachs, Mother
"They don't live in a bubble and I don't want to keep them in a bubble… Kids are kids you know they're going to get sick and you can't protect them forever."
