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Children 'must remember to wash hands regularly'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 17/03/2010.
Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids Kids HealthChildren should be taught the basics of hygiene from a young age in order to limit the spread of illnesses, it has been claimed.
According to writer and broadcaster Dr Carol Cooper, youngsters often forget to wash their hands when they are rushing around at school.
A recent study carried out by Carex revealed that a third of primary school children have been absent from the classroom due to an illness that could have been prevented.
"Teachers especially are always concerned that absence has an effect on a child's education and of course their socialising, but it's not just their learning that's at risk - it also affects parents' pockets," she explained.
Around 79 per cent of adults have been forced to take time off work in the past to care for their children.
It is important that kids learn how to wash their hands properly and not just splash them under the tap for a few seconds, Dr Cooper added.
Written by Fiona Mayers
michelle
(24/03/2010 19:15)
The world has gone crazy. This obsession with cleanliness is the real problem - children are in sterile environments where they are not able to develop a good immune system. We are not great hand washers at home, even before meals, happy to pick things up off the floor and NEVER EVER use those disgusting anti-bacterial cleaning products. Our son is never ill, and nor are we. If you have a definite illness in the house, then it is OK and advisable to wash hands with soap and hot water. Using anti-bacterial products is making bacteria more resistant and also killing all of the beneficial bacteria that we rely on for a healthy life.