Starting elementary school is an exciting milestone for both children and parents. Children are making new friends, learning new routines, and becoming more independent every day. Along with these exciting changes comes something many families notice during the first few months of school—the increase in coughs, colds, stomach bugs, and other common illnesses.

Schools are busy places where children spend hours learning, playing, eating, and sharing materials with classmates. While it’s impossible to avoid every germ, teaching healthy hygiene habits can significantly reduce the spread of illness and help children stay healthier throughout the school year.

Healthy hygiene is not about making children afraid of germs. Instead, it is about helping them develop simple daily habits that protect their health while showing respect and care for the people around them.

Why Healthy Hygiene Matters

Healthy hygiene habits help children do much more than avoid getting sick.

Good hygiene can:

Reduce the spread of common illnesses such as colds, influenza, COVID-19, and stomach viruses.
Help children miss fewer school days.
Support better concentration and learning by keeping children healthy.
Build confidence and independence.
Teach responsibility for personal health and the well-being of others.

Developing these habits early helps children build routines they can carry into adolescence and adulthood.

Handwashing: The Most Important Habit

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), proper handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Teach your child to wash their hands:

Before eating lunch or snacks.
After using the restroom.
After recess.
After coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose.
After touching shared classroom supplies.
Whenever their hands look or feel dirty.

Children should wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, making sure to scrub:

Between their fingers.
Around their thumbs.
The backs of their hands.
Under their fingernails.
Their wrists.

A fun way to practice is by singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice while washing.

Cover Every Cough and Sneeze

Teaching proper cough and sneeze etiquette helps reduce the spread of germs in classrooms.

Practice these simple steps together:

Cough or sneeze into your elbow—not your hands.
Use a tissue whenever possible.
Throw tissues away immediately.
Wash or sanitize hands afterward.

Role-playing these situations at home helps children remember what to do when they’re busy at school.

Keep Hands Away From the Face

Children naturally touch their eyes, nose, and mouth many times throughout the day. Since germs often enter the body through these areas, reducing face-touching can help lower the risk of illness.

Encourage your child to avoid:

Rubbing their eyes.
Picking their nose.
Biting their fingernails.
Chewing on pencils.
Putting classroom objects in their mouth.

These habits take time to change, so gentle reminders and positive reinforcement work better than punishment.

Don’t Share Personal Items

Sharing is an important social skill, but some items should always stay personal.

Remind your child not to share:

Water bottles
Drinks
Food
Eating utensils
Lip balm
Toothbrushes
Hats
Hairbrushes

Explain that sharing toys is kind, but sharing items that touch our mouths or faces can spread germs.

Build Confidence in Bathroom Routines

Starting school often means children use the restroom independently more often than they did before.

Practice these skills at home:

Flushing the toilet.
Wiping properly.
Washing hands every time.
Drying hands completely.
Telling a trusted adult if something doesn’t seem right.

Feeling comfortable with these routines helps children become more confident and independent at school.

Pack a Small Hygiene Kit

A simple hygiene kit can help children feel prepared throughout the school day.

Consider including:

Travel-size tissues.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (if permitted by your school).
A reusable water bottle.
Lip balm for personal use.
A spare pair of socks.
Extra underwear for emergencies.

Always check your school’s policies before sending personal hygiene products.

Healthy Habits Begin at Home

Children learn best by watching the adults in their lives.

Parents can model healthy hygiene by:

Washing hands together before meals.
Covering coughs and sneezes properly.
Staying home when sick.
Keeping fingernails clean and trimmed.
Talking positively about hygiene rather than creating fear about germs.

Children are much more likely to practice healthy habits when they see them modeled consistently at home.

Growing Together Tip

Instead of asking, “Did you wash your hands today?” ask, “When did you remember to wash your hands today?”

This simple change encourages children to reflect on the healthy choices they made throughout the day while reinforcing independence and responsibility.

What the Research Says

Research consistently shows that hand hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness in schools. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends regular handwashing with soap and water because it helps prevent many respiratory and gastrointestinal infections that commonly spread among school-aged children.

Studies have found that school-based hand hygiene programs can reduce illness-related absenteeism by helping children develop consistent handwashing habits. Fewer illnesses mean children spend more time in the classroom, where regular attendance supports learning, social development, and academic success.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also emphasizes that establishing healthy hygiene routines during early childhood promotes lifelong healthy behaviors. Children who learn these habits early are more likely to continue practicing them as they grow older, benefiting both their own health and the health of their communities.

Try This at Home

Create a “School Morning Hygiene Checklist” with your child.

Before leaving for school each day, encourage them to check off:

□ Brushed teeth

□ Washed hands

□ Brushed hair

□ Put on clean clothes

□ Packed water bottle

□ Packed tissues

□ Remembered to cover coughs and sneezes

Celebrate consistency with praise or a sticker chart to help build confidence and independence.

Video Resources:

English:

Spanish:

Westchester Family Resources

Westchester County Department of Health

The Westchester County Department of Health provides trusted information on handwashing, vaccinations, disease prevention, school health requirements, and healthy habits for children.

Address:
145 Huguenot Street
New Rochelle, NY 10801

Phone:
(914) 813-5000

Website:
https://health.westchestergov.com

2-1-1 Hudson Valley

2-1-1 Hudson Valley is a free and confidential information and referral service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Families can receive help finding healthcare providers, pediatric services, food assistance, mental health resources, child care, parenting programs, housing assistance, and many other community services throughout Westchester County.

Call or Text: 2-1-1

Alternative Phone:
(800) 899-1479

Website:
https://www.hudson211.org

HealthyChildren.org – American Academy of Pediatrics

HealthyChildren.org offers pediatrician-reviewed information on childhood illnesses, hygiene, vaccinations, healthy habits, nutrition, child development, and preparing children for school.

Website:
https://www.healthychildren.org

New York State Department of Health

The New York State Department of Health provides educational resources on disease prevention, immunizations, school health, and healthy living for children and families.

Website:
https://health.ny.gov

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2024). HealthyChildren.org: Handwashing and Keeping Children Healthy. https://www.healthychildren.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). When and How to Wash Your Hands. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Healthy Schools: Hand Hygiene. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/

New York State Department of Health. (2024). Hand Washing and Disease Prevention. https://health.ny.gov

Rabie, T., & Curtis, V. (2006). Handwashing and risk of respiratory infections: A systematic review. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 11(3), 258–267. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01568.x

Legal Disclaimer: The information provided by our nonprofit is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical concerns. We make no guarantees about the accuracy or completeness of the information and are not liable for any decisions made based on it. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical care.