Three essential cold and flu etiquette tips for kids.

Why it’s important to teach kids about cold and flu.

Children are susceptible to cold and flu due to their limited exposure to viruses, which means their immune systems need to learn and adapt to new germs. Figures by HealthDirect¹ reveal that children may experience between five to 10 colds a year, while adults may get two to four colds each year.

The influenza virus spreads easily through airborne droplets from coughing and sneezing, making it highly contagious, especially among children. They often carry large amounts of the virus in their nasal secretions and shed it more frequently during the infectious period. Additionally, children typically have closer contact with each other and may have poorer hygiene practices, further increasing the risk of transmission.

Family members and educators play a vital role in teaching children correct cold and flu etiquette.

Here are Scott’s top three tips:

Tip 1: Engage in activities to teach kids about germs. 

“Young children may find it difficult to grasp the concept of germs, especially as they can’t see them. To help them understand a little better, engage in a fun way using sustainable glitter to demonstrate the way germs spread,” explains Scott.

Glitter activity:

• Tell the child that in this activity, glitter represents germs. Ask them to talk about what they observe and learn throughout the activity.
• Ask the child to rub some hand lotion all over their hands, ensuring their hands are completely covered.
• Sprinkle a pinch of glitter into the palm of the child’s hand and ask them to rub their hands together. Ask them what they see. The glitter should stick to both hands.
• Ask the child to shake their hands to see what happens to the glitter. The glitter should spread across their hands.
• Ask the child to quickly wipe their hands on a tea towel. This method won’t be effective in removing all the glitter.
• Finally, ask the child to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water for 40-60 seconds. All traces of glitter should be gone. Discuss how the same process works with germs and explain the importance of thoroughly washing our hands.

Tip 2: Catch a germ with a funky dance move. Practice proper coughing techniques. 

Do you do the dab?²  It’s a dance where you put one arm straight in the air and bend the other elbow to your face. Children love doing the dab and it’s a perfect way to demonstrate how children should cough into the crook of the arm to avoid spreading germs.

“You could put on some music and do the demonstration while teaching the dance, or you could put posters up around the room showing fun characters doing the dab. Either way, everyone will have fun while learning how to reduce the spread of germs,” says Scott.

Tip 3: Make handwashing fun. 

It’s important that kids learn to wash their hands throughout the day as part of a proper routine.

“Make the process of handwashing fun by using the Colop Wash Me Stamp. Simply stamp a child’s hand with the ‘virus monster’ imprint. It gives them a visual reminder to wash their hands during the day. If handwashing has been done correctly, the imprint should be gone at the end of the day,” says Scott.

“Another great way to build handwashing habits is by using a simple reward system. Oversee handwashing and reward children with a sticker when they wash their hands correctly. This positive reinforcement can aid in their learning.”

Help keep your kids safe this winter by teaching them about cold and flu etiquette and good hygiene practices. Shop our Hot Winter Sale for all your cleaning and hygiene essentials this winter.

References:

¹ ‘HealthDirect.Gov, 2024:’, <https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/colds>

²Cela 2024:’, <https://www.cela.org.au/publications/amplify!-blog/june-2021/fun-ways-to-encourage-cough-and-sneeze-hygiene>