Make sure your child's backpack is stocked for cold season.
Achoo! Achoo! Sniff, sniff. With cold and flu season almost upon us, I've already started to hear those dreaded sounds coming from my children. In my house, it's never just one child with a cold, either. One child passes the cold on to another who passes it to Mom or Dad who passes it to another child who passes it to the remaining parent. This is when the cycle starts all over again. Managing kids with colds is a fine science-we keep our house, and their backpacks, well stocked with what we need to give the kids a (cold) fighting chance.
Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer
We've learned that it's a good idea to keep a small bottle of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer in my daughters' backpack during the school year. If possible, look for a keychain bottle that you can hang from your child's backpack so that you don't need to worry about spills. Encourage your child to use the hand sanitizer after they cough or sneeze, if they forget to wash their hands after using the bathroom, and after hands-on activities like recess and PE.
Tissues
Cold and flu season doesn't just affect my family. When my child is sick, it's because she got it from someone else and will likely spread it to someone else. A classroom of sick children means that the teacher might not be able to keep tissues in stock. Make sure your child has a pack of tissues for their backpack and one for their school desk as well. This way, they don't need to interrupt lessons for a tissue, and aren't out of luck when they're on the school bus.
Lotion
Pair a cold with windy, cold air, and your child may end up with chapped cheeks. If they have a sniffle, the area under their nose may end up chapped and raw, too. If your child is prone to these issues, which can sometimes be painful, you may want to consider a small container of lotion for their backpack. We've taught our daughter to use just a dab on the dry, cracked skin when she has a cold.
Lip Balm
Similarly, children with colds may be licking their lips and breathing with their mouths open, resulting in chapped lips. Make sure you have a tub of lip balm for your child's backpack so they can apply when necessary. I prefer medicated lip balm, but my stick to plain or flavored varieties for the kids.
Content by Kelly Herdrich.