{"id":38203,"date":"2021-08-04T09:30:21","date_gmt":"2021-08-04T13:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=38203"},"modified":"2025-08-21T21:27:39","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T01:27:39","slug":"teaching-kids-about-germs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/teaching-kids-about-germs\/","title":{"rendered":"How to teach your kids about germs before going back to school"},"content":{"rendered":"

As summer winds down, teachers and parents across the U.S. are bracing themselves for one seemingly inevitable side effect of the start of the new school year: kids spreading germs and <\/span>getting sick<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s a good time to start teaching (or reminding) kids about good health habits to reduce the spread of those nasty viruses\u2014including <\/span>stomach bugs<\/span><\/a>, the<\/span> flu<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>COVID-19<\/span><\/a>, or even a<\/span>\u00a0common cold<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

6 strategies for teaching kids about germs<\/span><\/h2>\n

So, it\u2019s up to you to start teaching kids about germs in the hopes that you can reduce or even prevent the spread of some of those illnesses. Here\u2019s how to approach the discussion of kids and germs.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Explain germs in easy-to-understand terms<\/span><\/h3>\n

Adults know that there are a number of different kinds of<\/span> organisms that can cause disease<\/span>: bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and even fungi. It\u2019s understood that some germs spread through the air, while others are spread through contact with bodily fluids, such as saliva, mucus, or blood. While you can\u2019t see those germs, they\u2019re definitely out there, just waiting to wreak havoc.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That can be a hard message to convey to young children. Simple, clear language is best for communicating facts about germs to kids. Tell younger children: \u201cYou can\u2019t see them, but they can still make you sick,\u201d suggests <\/span>Danelle Fisher, MD<\/span><\/a>, pediatrician and chair of pediatrics at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, California<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, you can explain that if you sneeze, cough, or sniffle, invisible germs float off into the air.\u00a0 Other germs need you to do a little more work for them. To spread those germs around, you might have to touch your mouth or nose and then touch someone else. (With older children, you can get into more detail, of course.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Make it fun\u2014and relatable<\/span><\/h3>\n

Germ education doesn\u2019t have to be boring, and it shouldn\u2019t be. If you start talking about protozoa, kids are likely to zone out. Instead, use comparisons that really make sense to your child, based on their current life experience. Try one of these activities to bring invisible germs to life:<\/span><\/p>\n