What is the best way to help children prevent the spread of infectious disease?

Proper hand washing is indeed one of the most effective ways to help children prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Hand washing with soap and water helps to physically remove germs and dirt from the skin. It’s essential to wash hands at key times, such as before eating, after using the restroom, and after playing outside or with animals. This practice eliminates pathogens on the hands, reducing the likelihood of infections being transmitted to oneself or to others.

While regularly sanitizing toys is important for maintaining a clean environment, it does not directly prevent germ transmission from person to person in the way that hand washing does. Encouraging limited contact with others might reduce the chances of exposure, but it can also hamper children's social development and learning about interactions. Using hand sanitizer is a useful alternative when soap and water are not available, but it is not as effective on visibly dirty hands and should not be the sole practice relied upon for preventing disease. Thus, promoting proper hand washing stands out as the most comprehensive and effective measure for children to adopt.