Back to school also means back to sharing germs. Keep your family in tip-top germ-fighting shape with these nine tips.

Handwashing ABCs. Kids touch everything, which is why it?s so important for them to wash their hands frequently. But they need to wash for at least 20 seconds to ensure all the germs are gone so teach kids to sing the alphabet song while washing, rinsing only when they?ve reached the end.

Disinfect. This is a good housekeeping habit but now that you?re spending more time indoors you should do it more often. Use a disinfectant and a disposable wipe to ensure germs aren?t transferred from one surface to the dishcloth. Replace bathroom and kitchen towels more frequently during cold and flu season.

Sleeve sneeze. Teach kids to sneeze and cough into their sleeves to help prevent spreading germs. Also teach your child not to touch their eyes, nose, or mouth to prevent contamination.
Layer up. Wearing layers traps heat and keeps our body warm, which means it has less work to do in cold weather. Dress kids for the weather, with a good base layer next to skin and an outer layer to prevent heat loss.

Stay hydrated. When kids are dehydrated, germs can more easily pass through their nasal passages?one of the main points of contamination?because the skin is dry. Make sure kids consume plenty of fluids to keep their nasal passages moist. Fluids can include water, clear juices, broth, or even popsicles (sugar-free is best).

Take sick days. This prevents the sp...