October brings cooler temperatures, fuller school calendars and plenty of fall activities. Between classroom projects, after-school programs, sports practices and seasonal celebrations, children may spend more time sharing spaces and supplies with friends and classmates.
As the month gets busier, it’s a good time for parents to reinforce the everyday habits that help children take an active role in maintaining a healthy learning environment.
Make Hand Washing Part of the Fall Routine
Children can wash their hands with soap and water before eating, after using the bathroom and after playing outside. October activities can provide natural reminders: wash hands before enjoying a classroom snack, after a pumpkin-patch visit or when arriving home from an afternoon activity.
Help younger children build confidence by talking through each step. Wet hands, add soap, scrub thoroughly, rinse and dry. Practicing at home makes the routine easier to remember at school and on the go.
Review Cough and Sneeze Etiquette
Fall is a helpful time to revisit how to cover a cough or sneeze. Remind children to use a tissue or the inside of their elbow—not their hands. Used tissues should go in the trash, followed by hand washing.
A quick refresher before school, sports or a weekend gathering can help make this habit feel automatic.
Keep Shared Spaces in Mind
October often means more time indoors, where children may share desks, tables, art supplies, sports equipment and electronic devices. Talk with children about keeping personal items organized and avoiding unnecessary contact with other people’s belongings.
Adults can clean and disinfect frequently touched hard, non-porous surfaces with Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes or Lysol® Disinfectant Spray, following product-label directions. Keeping commonly used surfaces clean can be part of a regular home and classroom routine.
Make Healthy Habits Engaging
Healthy habits don’t have to feel like another assignment. Families can turn them into part of a seasonal activity by creating a hand-washing reminder for the bathroom, practicing cough etiquette through a quick role-play or using a classroom activity to start a conversation about preventing germs from spreading.
Lysol’s HERE for Healthy Schools program, developed in partnership with the National Parent Teacher Association and the National Education Association, offers lesson plans, posters, activities, stickers and other resources designed to make healthy habits engaging for children.
This October, small reminders can help children carry healthy routines from home to school and everywhere fall activities take them.
For more information and resources for parents and educators, visit https://www.lysol.com/here-for-healthy-schools/.
