If you have been reading my blog for a while, you probably know that I am a teacher. Although I am working at home right now, I am jealous of all of the teachers setting up their classrooms, preparing items for students and going shopping for supplies. Of course, along with those items, many teachers are gearing up for items to keep their rooms as germ free as possible. The reality is that each and every year that I was teaching I was usually sick by the end of September.
These days cleaning at home and school is crucial to help keep illness away from children and teachers (no less everyone at home). When I was asked to participate in a MyBlogSpark for Back to School with Seventh Generation I immediately signed up. They sent me the Back-to-School kit that I am also giving away below. We use their products at home and I know a lot of teacher friends that do as well. Here are some tips from Seventh Generation to assist you to stay healthy and germ-free.
With nearly 22 million school days lost each year due to the common cold and flu (CDC) and as many as 2.7 million bacterial found per square inch on common school surfaces (NSF International), it´s no wonder that 82 percent of parents with kids in grades K-5 fret about the germs in their children´s classrooms (according to a survey conducted by Seventh Generation).
This school year, Seventh Generation is sharing tips from best-selling author and pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, to help parents protect their child´s health during back-to-school season. Dr. Greene suggests taking the following precautions:
Optimize the immune system
- Reap the benefits of probiotics like those found in yogurt. A recent study showed that children who received enough probiotics daily throughout the cold and flu season had a significant reduction in the number of illnesses they had and, when they did get sick, the symptoms were both milder and didn’t last as long.
- Be sure your child is getting plenty of vitamin D from the sun, from food, or from a supplement.
- Build a strong foundation. Good food, good sleep, and good physical activity all help the immune system to flourish.
Be wise about reducing unnecessary exposure to harmful germs
- Teach children the key times to clean their hands in the classroom. The most important times include after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom, upon leaving "high-risk" places (recess, naptime, play stations) and before meals or snacks.
- Sixty percent of teachers surveyed said that they request that parents donate disinfecting wipes to the classroom. Seventh Generation´s disinfecting wipes kill 99.99% of germs* naturally using the active ingredient thyme, a component of thyme oil which is derived from the herb thyme.
- Stress the importance of not touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Demonstrate to your children how to cover their mouth and nose for every cough and sneeze. This simple maneuver has spectacular results in decreasing the spread of viruses and bacteria floating about the room, waiting to be inhaled.
*Refer to disinfecting product labels for full details
Giveaway:
Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generation, one lucky winner will receive the following Seventh Generation Back to School Kit like the complimentary one I received.
The Seventh Generation "Back-to-School" kit includes a Seventh Generation backback, two canisters of Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes (one for home and one to donate to your child’s classroom), disinfecting multi-surface spray cleaner, facial tissue and paper towels.
Rules for Giveaway:
- MAIN RULE – Share a tip for keeping your kids healthy and germ-free.
The following Bonus Entries may also be done. Please be sure to leave separate comments for each that you complete below to make sure you get the right number of entries.
- 1 Bonus Entry – How do you keep your household clean during the school year?
- 1 Bonus Entry – Tweet the following about the giveaway (May be done once a day): Help to fight nasty germs! Enter to #win a Back-To-School Kit from @TheAngelForever and @SeventhGen http://bit.ly/c3DKMZ #myblogspark
- 1 Bonus Entry – Subscribe to my RSS feed (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment.
- 1 Bonus Entry – Leave a comment on any of my non-giveaway posts from the month of August/September. Leave a comment here to let me know which one. This Bonus entry may be done only twice per person.
- 3 Bonus Entries – Add my blog button to your website and leave a link with the location. Be sure to give yourself 3 comments for credit.
- 5 Bonus Entries – Write a post on your blog linking to my blog about the giveaway. Be sure to leave 5 comments about this to get credit for all of your extra entries.
To enter, please follow the rules above within the comment section. Contest starts today September 2 and ends at 10:59 EST on September 16, 2010. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but must leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you for mailing address once the giveaway is over. I will select the winner using random.org and contact you via e-mail. You will have 48 hours to claim the prize. If there is no response, another winner will be selected. Open to U.S. and Canada residents only.
Disclosure: I wrote this review as part of a MyBlogSpark campaign for Seventh Generation. My family received the complimentary Back-to-School kit and another will be provided to a winner of the giveaway. All opinons are my own and no other compensation has been given. As previously stated, we have been buying Seventh Generation products with our own money for many years.
Lots of handwashing and a good night’s sleep.
Jen Smith´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday Austin
We wash hands all the time, I spray with Lysol when illness does it, we use “magic soap”, we use anti viral kleenex and we try to keep as healthy diet as possible along with vitamins.
Sandra´s last blog post ..High protein meals
I am pretty anal about keeping the house clean by usual anti bacterial cleaners and wipes. I vacuum or use the carpet broom every day. It is not much work when you do it all the time!
Sandra´s last blog post ..High protein meals
I already have your blog button
Sandra´s last blog post ..High protein meals
I tweeted the link.
Sandra´s last blog post ..High protein meals
I put the link on my blog page.
Sandra´s last blog post ..High protein meals
1. Posted on my blog
Sandra´s last blog post ..High protein meals
2. copied some of your post for my blog
Sandra´s last blog post ..High protein meals
3. Then I linked your blog on the post
Sandra´s last blog post ..High protein meals
4. Trying to think of something to say more about posting on my blog LOL
Sandra´s last blog post ..High protein meals
5. Last comment for linking this to my blog
Sandra´s last blog post ..High protein meals
I believe I already have you on the RSS feed.
Sandra´s last blog post ..High protein meals
I left on comment on another blog post
Phineas, Ferb and Kung Zhu Take 2
About our kids being 7!!
Sandra´s last blog post ..High protein meals
My tip is that I don’t try to keep my kids germ-free. Yes it sucks that Alex gets strep twice a year but I’m thankful there are antibiotics that will help him get better. I fear for the day that antibiotics are no longer effective because everyone is so into antibacterial this and that. Not trying to stir up a can of worms but I feel strongly about this. :)
Nancy´s last blog post ..WW
Constant handwashing!
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my tweet: http://twitter.com/KTnestingspot/status/22847794734
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Your button is on my sidebar under “My Friends”
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We wash our hands a LOT in this house. I’m really particular about that, and my son is a really healthy one. I must be doing something right.
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Sarah – PS Mom Reviews´s last blog post ..Thursday Blog Hops
Keeping my house clean is just about doing the small routine things each day and keeping clutter at bay.
Sarah – PS Mom Reviews´s last blog post ..Thursday Blog Hops
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I subscribe via RSS.
I have your button on my blog- http://psmomreviews.blogspot.com.
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Button #2
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I make sure they eat healthy. Also send a non alcohol hand sanitizer with them to school.
To keep our home clean, I disinfect daily. Door handles. faucets and soap dispensers!!
tweeted http://twitter.com/AKauz/status/22973711994
My kids are taught to sneeze and cough into their inner elbow to prevent germs on their hands.
Bonus entry
To keep our household clean during the school year…the very first thing the kids do is wash their hands before touching ANYTHING. We wipe down the entry door knobs daily. Showers are daily for all ages of our children to prevent any “school germs” from getting into our beds as well as coats being washed weekly and NO clothing skips the washer, no matter what. No two wears before washing for us. I’m a germophobe and can imagine horrible if these rules aren’t followed.
subscribed to feed…great blog!
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The best way to keep kids germ free is to make sure hands are washed often!
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
I keep my house clean by doing a little bit every day and not letting too much clutter build up.
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Thank you to everyone that entered. This giveaway is closed and the winner has been notified via e-mail. Please check out the new winner page for details.