Summer’s officially over, the kids are back in school (woohoo!), and life’s starting to feel somewhat normal again. But just as you're settling into your routine, one kid is sent home with a fever, the other one’s rocking the cough-and-runny-nose combo, and now you’re starting to feel a little icky too. Yep, it’s back-to-school season—the time when all those pesky germs, bugs, and recurring illnesses make their grand entrance. With crowded classrooms, iffy handwashing, and kids swapping snacks and toys, schools turn into prime breeding grounds for germs. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Here are 5 easy ways to dodge those back-to-school germs to keep everyone feeling healthy and happy.

1. Make hand washing fun 

We all know that good hand washing prevents germs from spreading, but getting kids to do it can be a real challenge, especially when they’re at school. At home, you can be the handwashing police making sure they scrub up before meals and after playing outside. But once they’re at school, it’s a bit of a free-for-all. With so many kids and not enough teachers, you can’t always be sure your child washed their hands after getting messy in the mud at recess.

To help your kids remember and make it a habit (even when you’re not around to supervise!), turn handwashing into something fun. Here are some cool ideas to get them excited about keeping those hands squeaky clean:

• Pack some colorful soap sticks in their backpack to make applying soap way more exciting.
• Give them a special notebook to track their hand washing at school. They can turn it in for a prize, an extra bedtime story, or a bit of extra playtime.
• Fill a liquid soap dispenser with colorful glitter and pack for school. It not only makes handwashing more fun (because who doesn’t love glitter?), but it also helps them see when all the soap is rinsed off.
• Make mini homemade soaps to give out to their friends at school. Hide a small toy in the center of each soap to make handwashing a fun treasure hunt, rewarding them with a prize after they’ve used the soap enough times. 
• Clip cute mini hand sanitizer bottles to their backpack and lunchbox for on-the-go cleaning.

2. Teach kids to keep snacks to themselves

Okay, hear me out—this might sound a bit strict, but there's a good reason behind it. Kids love swapping snacks, which is great for encouraging sharing, but it’s also a prime opportunity for passing around germs—especially if they touch their mouth or tongue and then reach back into the snack bag. Instead, explain to your kids that their snacks are packed just for them to help their bodies grow and stay energized. If they’re having a hard time with it, pack an extra snack bag for their friend—but make sure to clear it with their parents first. This way, your child can share without spreading germs.

3. Encourage an early bedtime on school days

Sleep isn’t just about staying focused in school and having enough energy for play and extracurricular activities; it’s also important for keeping our immune system strong and our bodies healthy. While we sleep, our immune cells get a recharge, helping us fight off illness and infections. That’s why a lack of sleep can make us more likely to get sick. So, even if your kid seems okay, a good night’s sleep will keep them energized for the school day, in a great mood, and ready to fend off those school germs.

There might be a few tantrums, but sticking to an early bedtime on school nights helps your kids get the rest they need. It might mean turning out the lights sooner or starting an earlier bedtime routine, so that they’re calm, relaxed, and ready for bed. A restful bedtime routine could include a warm bath, dimming the lights, giving them a winddown aid, reading a book (and turning off screens!), and turning down the temperature to make the room cool and cozy.

4. Put them in the bath right away

I don’t know about you, but my kids come home from school absolutely filthy—paint on their faces, dirt on their clothes, and somehow their knees are always stained black. I’m not mad about it because it means they’ve had a fun day at school, but I know it also means they’ve been busy and probably picked up all sorts of germs. Especially for my toddlers, as soon as we get home from carpool, I scoop them up from their car seats and head straight to the bath. This way, they’re squeaky clean at home and we avoid spreading grime through the house or transferring germs to their toys.

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5. Consider a kids greens powder 

Whether your kid is a picky eater or not, a greens powder can be a convenient way to pack in a ton of nutrients from fruits and veggies into one small scoop. So, if your child skips the sliced bell peppers in their lunch or turns down the blueberries at breakfast, adding a greens powder to their daily routine can help fill in those gaps. And how do fruits and veggies help with back-to-school germs? Fruits and veggies are loaded with vitamins and minerals that boost the immune system so it can do it’s job of helping fend off those dreadful bugs and germs.

That’s why I’m a fan of Hiya Kids Daily Greens + Superfoods—it’s packed with over 55 whole food ingredients and antioxidants, specifically designed for kids, and supports their immune system, brain health, growth, and digestion. Even better, unlike other green powders that can taste earthy or bitter, this one is chocolate-flavored, so it’s tasty on its own or mixes easily into recipes without needing to disguise the flavor. Just mix a scoop into milk or a non-dairy drink, and serve it with meals or snacks. You can also blend it into smoothies or mix it into oatmeal. Get creative!

Remember, with kids around, you can't be a complete germaphobe. You don’t need to go overboard with cleanliness, and don’t push too hard on your kids—if there’s one thing I’ve learned from parenting, it’s that being too strict can backfire, and you’ll end up with kids running around with dirty hands despite your best efforts. The goal is to teach your kids about germ prevention and create sustainable routines and habits to stay healthy at school.

Best of luck to you this school year!