Germs can form on any surface and this is especially true in school areas where children enjoy touching and discovering everything in sight. Germs can be significantly reduced in the classroom if a proactive approach is taken. Often, hiring school cleaning services is more than enough to keep your school clean and hygienic, but when illness is spreading, extra care needs to be taken. If you’re a teacher, principal, or member of staff at a school, here are some simple ways to reduce the spread of germs in your school.
1. Teach Children Proper Practice
Teach kids early what they should and shouldn’t be doing when it comes to germs and hygiene. Because schools have a high volume of traffic every day, germs can linger on everything. Use the classroom to educate children constantly throughout the day. Ask them questions like:
- When is it important to wash your hands?
- Why should I not share drinks?
- Why should I clean up after I make a mess?
All these questions will prompt discussions and create an environment where you can instil proper behaviour from a young age.
2. Make Cleaning Easy and Fun
Do not make cleaning and being hygienic a pain. If you do, children will not want to play along. Show them that it is easy and is better for everyone in the long run. Make soap, tissues, paper towels, hand sanitiser, and other cleaning tools easy for children to access. When the task seems easy, they will be more likely to oblige. If they’re young enough, teach them that, by stopping germs in their tracks, they are now on their way to becoming a hygiene superhero.
3. Provide Reminders and Colourful Presentations
Children are visual learners. They need constant showing and not telling. Put up colourful posters and reminders around the classroom and the school. Visual cues next to the sink will remind them to wash their hands. Create rhyming songs to sing while picking up materials at the end of the day. By constantly and positively reinforcing this behaviour, it will eventually become second nature and the standard practice will be much more hygienic.
4. Send Sick Children Home
If children are sick during the day or not feeling well when they arrive, send them home. They should not be in the vicinity of other children who could possibly get sick as well. Even if the parents disagree, the best practice is to err on the side of caution. A child can be contagious without the parents knowing it. Send the child to the school nurse to be kept away from the others.
5. Ensure Your Cleaners Are Doing the Best Job Possible
The foundation of a hygienic school is its general cleanliness. It’s crucial that the people you hire to clean your school grounds and classrooms are well-equipped and experienced in order to provide the most hygienic environment possible for your students. Your best bet is to use a corporate cleaning company that specialises in school cleaning, such as AMC Cleaning.
Keeping your school free of germs does not have to be a monstrous task, but it is important that you take steps to keep the children (and staff!) as safe as possible from illnesses.
