10 tips to avoid common back-to-school illnesses

Going back to school means returning to classrooms, playgrounds, buses, sports activities, and other shared spaces where children spend a lot of time in close contact with one another. Because of this increased contact, common infections such as colds, respiratory illnesses, and stomach infections can spread more easily during the school year.

While it is not possible to prevent every illness, simple everyday habits can reduce the chances of your child picking up or spreading an infection. Good hand hygiene, appropriate cough and sneeze habits, staying up to date with recommended vaccinations, healthy sleep and eating routines, and sensible use of shared spaces all play a role in keeping children healthier at school.

The goal is not to create a completely germ-free environment. Instead, parents can help children build practical habits that become part of their normal school routine. The following 10 tips focus on simple steps that can help reduce the spread of common back-to-school illnesses.

How Can You Avoid Common Back-to-School Illnesses?

There is no single way to prevent every illness a child may encounter at school. Children naturally come into contact with other students, shared objects, and different environments throughout the school day. However, several everyday measures can lower the risk of spreading or acquiring common infections.

The most useful approach is to combine several habits rather than rely on one action alone. Hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, vaccination, healthy routines, cleaning, and appropriate behavior when a child becomes sick can all contribute to a healthier school environment.

Here are 10 practical ways to help avoid common back-to-school illnesses. These steps cannot guarantee that your child will stay healthy throughout the school year, but they can help reduce avoidable exposure and limit the spread of some infections.

1. Teach Your Child to Wash Their Hands Properly

Hand hygiene is one of the simplest ways to reduce the spread of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in school settings. Children come into contact with desks, door handles, toys, sports equipment, shared learning materials, and other surfaces throughout the day, making regular hand cleaning an important everyday habit.

The goal is not to make children wash their hands constantly. Instead, help them recognize the moments when handwashing is particularly useful and teach them how to do it properly.

When Should Children Wash Their Hands at School?

Encourage your child to clean their hands at key times, including:

• Before eating or handling food
• After using the bathroom
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose
• After playing outside or participating in activities involving shared equipment
• Whenever their hands are visibly dirty

Building these moments into the daily school routine can make hand hygiene easier for children to remember.

How Should Children Wash Their Hands?

When soap and water are available, children should wet their hands, apply soap, and rub their hands thoroughly, including the backs of the hands, between the fingers, and around the nails. Handwashing should take about 20 seconds before rinsing and drying.

If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be used. Younger children may need adult supervision when using hand sanitizer.

The important point is consistency: children should learn handwashing as a normal part of their school routine rather than something they only do when someone around them is sick.

2. Teach Good Coughing and Sneezing Habits

Coughs and sneezes can release respiratory particles into the surrounding environment. Teaching children how to cover coughs and sneezes properly can help reduce the spread of respiratory infections at school.

This habit is especially useful because it gives children a simple action they can take even when they do not know whether their symptoms are caused by a specific infection.

Teach Your Child to Cover Coughs and Sneezes

Show your child how to:

• Cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Throw used tissues into the trash immediately.
• Use the inside of their elbow if a tissue is not available.
• Clean their hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose.

Using the elbow instead of the hands helps reduce the chance of transferring respiratory secretions to objects and other people.

Remind Children Not to Touch Their Face

Children often touch their faces without noticing. Encourage them to avoid unnecessary contact with their:

• Eyes
• Nose
• Mouth

This can be particularly useful after touching shared classroom materials or other commonly handled objects.

The goal is not to expect children to keep their hands completely away from their faces. Instead, combine this habit with regular hand hygiene so that unavoidable face-touching is less likely to transfer contaminants from dirty hands.

Read more: When Should You See a Doctor for a Cough?

3. Keep Your Child’s Vaccinations Up to Date

Vaccination is an important part of preventing illnesses that can be avoided through immunization. Staying up to date with recommended vaccines can help protect children from certain infections and can also reduce the risk of severe illness from some vaccine-preventable diseases.

Because vaccination recommendations can depend on a child's age, health history, location, and current public health guidance, parents should check their child's immunization record rather than assuming that all recommended vaccines are complete.

Check Recommended Vaccines Before the School Year

Before the school year begins, parents can:

• Review their child's vaccination record.
• Check whether any routine vaccines are due.
• Ask whether seasonal or age-specific vaccines are recommended.
• Check school or local requirements that apply to their child.

Keeping records organized can also make it easier to identify whether a vaccine or dose has been missed.

Talk to a Healthcare Professional About Missing Vaccines

If your child has missed a recommended vaccine or you are unsure whether their immunizations are up to date, speak with a healthcare professional.

Do not assume that a missed dose means the entire vaccination schedule needs to start over. A healthcare professional can review the child's history and explain what may be appropriate based on the specific vaccine and circumstances.

4. Help Your Child Get Enough Sleep

Returning to school often means returning to an earlier wake-up time and a more structured daily schedule. Getting enough regular sleep supports children's overall health, daytime alertness, learning, and daily functioning.

Recommended sleep duration varies by age. For example, children ages 6–12 generally need about 9–12 hours of sleep per 24 hours, while teenagers generally need 8–10 hours.

Keep a Consistent Sleep Schedule

A consistent sleep and wake schedule can make the transition from summer to school easier.

Parents can help by:

• Moving bedtime earlier gradually before school starts.
• Keeping wake-up times relatively consistent.
• Avoiding large differences between weekday and weekend schedules.
• Allowing enough time for the child to get their age-appropriate amount of sleep.

The goal is to establish a routine that can realistically continue once school begins.

Create a Healthy Bedtime Routine

A predictable bedtime routine can help children wind down before sleep.

Depending on the child's age and needs, this may include:

• Quiet activities before bedtime
• A comfortable, dark, and quiet sleeping environment
• Limiting stimulating activities close to bedtime
• Following a consistent sequence of bedtime activities

Sleep should be treated as part of the child's regular school preparation rather than something to catch up on only after a busy day.

Read more: Why Am I Always Tired Even After Sleeping?

5. Encourage Healthy Eating and Regular Hydration

Children need regular meals, snacks, and fluids to support normal daily activities at school. A balanced eating routine can also make it easier for children to maintain their energy throughout a busy school day.

This does not mean children need a special “immune-boosting” diet or a collection of supplements. The focus should be on regular, varied meals and adequate hydration.

Pack Balanced Meals and Snacks

When preparing school meals or snacks, aim for variety rather than perfection.

Depending on the child's dietary needs, meals can include a combination of:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Protein-rich foods
• Whole grains or other carbohydrate sources
• Other nutritious foods the child normally enjoys

The exact foods will vary based on age, allergies, dietary preferences, cultural habits, and individual nutritional needs.

Make Water the Go-To Drink

Children may forget to drink while they are busy at school, especially during active periods.

Sending a reusable water bottle can make drinking water more convenient. Parents can also encourage children to drink regularly throughout the day, particularly during physical activity or hot weather.

Read more: Are You Drinking Enough Water?

6. Teach Children Not to Share Personal Items

Schools involve frequent interaction with other children, but not everything needs to be shared. Teaching children to keep certain personal items to themselves can reduce unnecessary contact with saliva, respiratory secretions, and other potentially contaminated materials.

This is especially relevant for objects that come into direct contact with the mouth or face.

Items Children Should Avoid Sharing

Depending on the situation, children should generally avoid sharing personal items such as:

• Water bottles
• Cups and eating utensils
• Food that has already been bitten or handled around the mouth
• Lip products
• Other personal items that come into direct contact with the face or mouth

Parents can explain this as a simple hygiene rule rather than making children afraid of normal contact with classmates.

Teach Children About Shared Classroom Objects

Children will naturally use shared objects at school, including books, desks, toys, sports equipment, and classroom materials.

They do not need to avoid every shared surface. Instead, encourage practical habits such as:

• Cleaning their hands at appropriate times.
• Avoiding unnecessary touching of their eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Following classroom hygiene routines.
• Cleaning personal items that are used frequently.

These habits work together with hand hygiene rather than replacing it. Shared objects and close contact are among the factors that can contribute to infection spread in school environments.

7. Keep Frequently Used Items and Spaces Clean

Children interact with many frequently touched objects throughout the school day. Regular cleaning of personal belongings and commonly used surfaces can help reduce the amount of dirt and germs that accumulate on them.

Cleaning is different from trying to sterilize every object a child touches. The practical goal is to routinely clean items and surfaces that are used often, especially when they become visibly dirty.

Clean School Items Regularly

Depending on the item and the manufacturer's instructions, regularly clean frequently used belongings such as:

• Water bottles
• Lunch boxes and food containers
• Reusable utensils
• Sports equipment used personally
• Frequently handled personal items

Food containers and water bottles should be cleaned appropriately after use rather than simply being put back into a backpack.

Pay Attention to High-Touch Surfaces at Home

Parents can also pay attention to frequently handled surfaces at home, particularly when someone in the household is sick.

Examples include:

• Door handles
• Light switches
• Tables and countertops
• Frequently used electronic devices
• Bathroom surfaces

Schools similarly use routine cleaning and sanitizing practices for frequently touched surfaces and objects.

Cleaning should be practical and appropriate for the surface. There is generally no need to turn normal household cleaning into an excessive disinfection routine.

8. Pay Attention to Ventilation and Air Quality

The air inside classrooms and other shared indoor spaces can affect how easily some respiratory infections spread. Improving airflow can help reduce the concentration of infectious particles in the air, particularly when children spend long periods together indoors.

This does not mean that every window should always be open. Weather, outdoor air quality, temperature, allergies, asthma, and building safety all need to be considered. When conditions allow, bringing in outdoor air and using appropriate ventilation can be a useful part of a broader approach to reducing respiratory infection spread.

Encourage Fresh Air When Appropriate

When it is safe and practical, opening windows or doors can increase outdoor airflow. Even partially opening a window may improve ventilation, although the best approach depends on the building and its ventilation system.

Outdoor activities can also provide an opportunity to reduce the amount of time children spend in crowded indoor spaces. Recess, certain classes, lunch, or other activities may be moved outdoors when weather and school conditions allow.

Be Aware of Crowded Indoor Spaces

Classrooms, buses, cafeterias, gyms, and other enclosed areas can bring many people together in a relatively small space. Good ventilation can help reduce the amount of respiratory virus particles that remain in the air.

Parents do not need to avoid every crowded indoor setting. Instead, children can benefit from spending time in well-ventilated spaces when possible and following the school's usual infection-prevention measures.

9. Teach Your Child What to Do When They Feel Sick

Preventing illness is not only about avoiding exposure. Children can also help reduce the spread of infection by recognizing when they do not feel well and telling a trusted adult.

Younger children may not always know whether a symptom is important, so the goal is not to teach them to diagnose themselves. Instead, they should know when something feels different from normal and understand that telling an adult is the right response.

Recognize Early Signs of Illness

Children may notice symptoms such as feeling feverish or having chills, coughing, a sore throat, unusual tiredness, vomiting, diarrhea, or other symptoms that make normal school activities difficult.

A child does not need to identify the exact illness. The important point is recognizing that they do not feel well enough to continue their usual activities and communicating this to an adult.

Tell a Parent, Teacher, or School Staff Member

Children should know that hiding symptoms or trying to continue normal activities when they feel significantly unwell can make it harder for adults to respond appropriately.

If a child starts feeling sick at school, they should tell their teacher, school nurse, parent, or another responsible adult. The adult can then decide what should happen next based on the child's symptoms and the school's illness procedures.

10. Keep Your Child Home When They Are Sick

Keeping a sick child home is part of protecting both the child and the wider school community. It can give the child time to recover while reducing the chance of spreading an infection to classmates, teachers, and other school staff.

Parents do not always know exactly which infection is causing a child's symptoms. For that reason, decisions about staying home are often based on the child's symptoms, ability to participate normally, and the school's current illness policy.

When Should a Child Stay Home From School?

A child should generally stay home when they have symptoms that could make it difficult to participate safely in school or increase the risk of spreading an infection.

Examples include:

• Fever, including fever accompanied by a new rash
• Repeated vomiting
• Significant or unusual diarrhea
• Uncovered skin sores that are draining and cannot be covered
• Respiratory symptoms that are getting worse or are not improving and are not better explained by another cause

The exact requirements can vary depending on the illness and local school policies, so parents should also follow the rules provided by their child's school.

When Can a Child Return to School?

A child should generally be well enough to participate in normal school activities without being excessively fatigued or requiring more care than school staff can reasonably provide.

For common symptoms, current guidance includes several practical criteria. For example, a child can generally return after being fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication, while respiratory symptoms should be improving overall for at least 24 hours. Vomiting should have been resolved overnight, and the child should be able to keep down food and fluids in the morning. Diarrhea should also have improved.

These are general criteria rather than a substitute for illness-specific guidance. Some infections have their own return-to-school requirements, and schools or local health authorities may have additional rules.

Read more: Back-to-School Health Checklist for Parents in British Columbia

When Should You Talk to a Doctor About Your Child’s Symptoms?

Most minor childhood illnesses can be monitored at home, but some symptoms require medical advice rather than relying only on general school-health guidance.

Symptoms That Are Severe or Getting Worse

Talk to a healthcare professional if your child's symptoms are severe, continue to worsen, or improve and then return.

Fever, Breathing Problems, or Significant Dehydration

Breathing difficulty, unusually fast breathing, bluish lips or face, significant dehydration, unusual difficulty staying alert, seizures, or other serious symptoms require prompt medical attention.

Symptoms That Do Not Improve as Expected

If your child remains unwell longer than expected, becomes increasingly tired, cannot maintain normal activities, or develops new concerning symptoms, a healthcare professional can help determine whether further assessment is needed.

When You Are Unsure Whether Your Child Should Go to School

If you are uncertain whether your child's symptoms are mild enough for school or whether they should remain at home, getting medical advice can help you make a more informed decision. You should also consider your school's current illness and return-to-school requirements..

Read more: Common Fall Illnesses:10 Common Illnesses in Autumn

Get Medical Advice When Your Child Is Sick

If your child is sick, their symptoms are getting worse, or you are unsure whether they should stay home from school, speaking with a healthcare professional through Avee Health can help you understand what to do next. Through Telehealth, you can connect with a doctor by phone to discuss your child’s symptoms and get medical guidance without needing to visit a clinic in person.

If a doctor determines that your child should stay home from school and a note is appropriate, a Sick Note may also be available after the consultation. For more practical information about common general health concerns and staying healthy throughout the year, you can also explore the Avee Health Blog.

Conclusion

Going back to school naturally means more contact with classmates, shared spaces, and indoor environments, so some illnesses are difficult to avoid completely. However, practical habits can help reduce unnecessary exposure and limit the spread of infections.

Hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, recommended vaccinations, healthy routines, cleaner air, and appropriate behavior when a child becomes sick all have a role to play. Just as importantly, children should learn that staying home when they are unwell is part of taking care of themselves and the people around them.

The goal is not to keep children away from every possible source of germs. It is to help them develop simple habits that support a healthier and more manageable school routine.