Kids & Germs

When I see my otherwise intelligent and happy child touch every surface around him as he navigates a public area; and then touch his face or eat with his hands, it is no mystery why children come down with colds and transmittable illness so easily. And while he will whine about his nose or his throat and act miserable, and while I can so easily teach him almost everything else, including hand washing, it is virtually impossible to make him understand that touching everything and then touching his face or eating with his hands is going to significantly increase the likelihood of his getting sick. I think that touching things is hardwired as a part of learning—but it really is hard for a parent to helplessly see his kid "playing Russian roulette" with germs and viruses.