What’s in Your Backpack?

Immune Health Edition

PRESENTS

What's in Your Backpack?

Frequent handwashing is crucial for avoiding the spread of germs, but over time, it can lead to dry, cracked skin. These tiny breaks in the skin are ideal entry areas for bacteria and other pathogens. To help soothe your child’s dry, irritated skin, send them to school with a non-greasy, kid-friendly hand cream.

Consider moisturizer for dry skin

Chronic stress can lead to long-term inflammation that can affect the body’s ability to fight off illness-causing pathogens. Even little ones need tools and coping strategies for managing daily stressors. Whether your child’s stress-busting go-to is a fidget spinner, Rubik’s cube, or tablet*, Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes are a great way to disinfect these hard, nonporous items when kids come home from school and provide you with peace of mind knowing your child’s items and home’s high touch areas are clean.

Pack something to de-stress

Teaching your little one the importance of proper hygiene etiquette is another way to minimize the spread of germs at school. Before they head off for the first day of school, make sure they know to:

Teach little ones to keep germs to themselves

Equipping your child with a reusable water bottle isn’t just good for the environment. It can also prevent exposure to germs from water fountains and shared drinkware. When your child comes home, clean their bottle with soap and water or run it through the dishwasher, if it’s dishwasher safe.

Go reusable for H2O

Kids and adults need both prebiotic and probiotic foods to maintain a healthy gut microbiome, which, in turn, supports immune health. Examples of high fiber prebiotic foods include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Probiotic foods containing gut-friendly bacteria include kefir, tempeh, kimchi, and other fermented foods. While kids may not love the strong taste of many probiotic foods, individual yogurt cups are an easy-to-pack, mild-tasting option.

Add probiotics to your child’s diet

Packing easy-to-eat foods like nuts and seeds for your child ensures they stay fueled throughout the day. Almonds and walnuts are simple, on-the-go snacks containing nutrients like healthy fats and vitamins that help shore up the immune system — just 1 ounce of almonds contains nearly half the recommended daily value of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant.

Offer nutrient-packed small bites for a snack

Eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins and nutrients helps fortify the immune system. Vitamins and minerals crucial for proper immune function include vitamins D and C, zinc, iron, and selenium. Carrots, apples, and berries are good sources of antioxidants like vitamin C, which may play a role in improving the body’s immune response.

Include fruits and veggies in your child’s lunch

Cover their mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing, either with a tissue or their elbow.

Dispose of used tissues right away in a trash can.

Avoid sharing food, cutlery, and water bottles with others.

Frequent handwashing is a crucial strategy for preventing the spread of germs. Here are a few fun ways to teach and encourage handwashing:

Make it into a game: Whether it’s a game of bathroom “I Spy” or handwashing bingo, turning handwashing into a fun activity makes kids more likely to do it willingly.

Use glitter: A lesson on handwashing is the ideal time to teach kids about germs. Add a bit of glitter to show them how germs can cling to surfaces like their hands. It’s educational and fun.

Sing a song: Instead of timing handwashing to the tune of Happy Birthday, come up with a fun song with your child that they can recite to ensure they’re washing long enough — at least 20 seconds.

Encourage frequent handwashing

When you start clean, you can focus on what matters most, like your child’s health and immunity.

*For electronics, refer to manufacturer’s guide for cleaning and disinfecting instructions

Packing your child’s backpack with immune-supporting essentials can help prevent typical back-to-school illnesses. To keep germs from getting into and spreading throughout your house, consider implementing a ‘drop zone’ in your home, where kids know to leave their outside items, including their backpacks. Then use Clorox® Disinfecting Mist to disinfect hard nonporous surfaces like pencil cases and binders, and sanitize soft surfaces, like backpacks and shoes.

For more information on germ-fighting essentials for back-to-school season, visit Clorox.com

Implement an after-school drop zone

What's in Your Backpack: Immune Health Edition

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