The first and foremost important thing kids can learn is personal hygiene.

* Washing hands regularly especially after going to the toilet. 

* Use a tissue or cover your mouth/ nose when sneezing or coughing. This is how germs spread and if we teach our kids early to do these then we lessen the chance of spreading germs to others. 

* Get the kids to wash their hands with antibacterial hand wash when they get home, particularly before eating.

Healthy kids aren’t sick kids. If kids are healthy, then they are less likely to get sick!!

* Instill good eating habits with your kids. Eat plenty of fruit, vegies, grains and meat for vitamins, minerals, iron and protein. 

* If your child is a fussy eater or you think they don’t get enough vitamins etc consider giving them a multi vitamin supplement.  

*Exercise and getting outdoors! Vitamin D aids the absorption of calcium and is important for the immune system, so make sure your child is getting enough sun!
Children who exercise are typically healthy and well adjusted. Exercise can help strengthen their bones and muscles, manage their weight, reduce health risks and relieve stress.

If your children are sick….

*Stay at home…. unless absolutely necessary, so the child can rest, get over their illness and not spread germs to others! I don’t know how many times I have seen really sick kids being trailed over the shopping centre, when they really needed to be at home. There was one child recently who had a severe cough and was lethargic and the parents were shopping in Myer… I can understand if you need something at a supermarket but Myer?!? Surely it could of waited until he was better!
My biggest annoyance when it comes to taking kids out when they are sick, are parents who send their kids to child care, kinder and school when the kids are obviously not well.
Mr youngest went to kinder last year and the kinder teacher ended up telling a few parents to take their kids home as soon as they walked in the door. Kinder was for 4 hrs! I really don’t think kindy is that imperative that the kids need to be there when they are ill and germinating the rest of the class.

So that is the illnesses part done but what about those dreaded things that all parents hate…. head lice!!  Just the mere mention of headlice makes my head itch and my skin crawl… yuk!

Here is some information on head lice and what to do when the kids get them:
Top Tips against Head Lice
1. Regular checks – Ensure you remain vigilant in checking your child’s hair regularly – at least once a week is ideal with a detector comb through the hair with some conditioner.
2. Know what you’re looking for – Head lice are usually between 1 and 3mm across, have six tiny legs and are brown in appearance.
3. Use treatment – Lice will remain on a head until they are treated. Use desired treatments as directed and note that any head lice treatments should be repeated after seven days.
4. Be conscious of lice – It’s not only children that catch head lice. Anyone in the family can catch head lice. Be conscious and aware of how lice move and survive.

THE FACTS OF LICE
• Head lice vary in colour but are usually light to dark brown.
• The white empty egg cases are called nits.
• Head lice can be found on clean and dirty hair, they don’t discriminate!
• Head lice cannot jump, swim or fly. They walk from one head to another by close, prolonged
head contact.
• Head lice quickly die if they don’t stay close to the scalp.
• It’s not only children that catch head lice. Anyone in the family can catch head lice!
• Itching is not always a symptom of head lice. It may take up to 12 weeks to develop. Only 30 per cent of people with head lice will have an itchy head.
• You cannot catch head lice from pets; they can only live on human heads.
• It’s not only people with long hair that can catch head lice, short hair provides no protection.
• All head lice treatments should be repeated after seven days.

To help you be prepared for the dreaded day the kids come home with nits, we have 3 bottles of Full Marks Solution and 3 bottles of the Full Marks spray to give away.
 Tell us in 25 words or less, why you need some Full Marks in your house…. Enter Here!

About Full Marks Solutions and Sprays:
Australian parents looking for a fast-acting head lice solution can now breathe easy, with the
introduction of a new odourless, insecticide-free solution aimed at combating this commonly occurring problem amongst Australian children. 

Available to coincide with the start of the school year, this revolutionary new treatment, Full Marks Solution, is clinically proven, and contains no traditional insecticides or odours that have made dealing with head lice so undesirable in the past. 

“Schools are the ideal breeding ground for head lice. Over the years we have seen these insects grow tougher to treat as a result of their increasing resistance to traditional insecticide treatments,” Ms Jane Whittles, spokesperson for Full Marks in Australia said. 

“This new treatment physically kills head lice by working to dissolve the outer coat of the louse, causing irreversible dehydration, shrinkage and death,” Ms Whittles said. 

Unlike many other lice treatments which require lengthy treatments, Full Marks Solution works in 10 minutes with a second application after seven days to ensure any newly hatched eggs are killed. 

Ms Whittles noted that while schools were a major focus in combating the head lice problem amongst our children, the issue should concern entire families. 

“School is an obvious place where we should tackle lice head-on, however everybody in the
community should be aware of the problem and make sure they conduct regular head lice checks at home. If lice are found, they are now much easier to deal with,” Ms Whittles said. The product works in three simple steps: 

1 Apply the solution, massage it in thoroughly and leave for ten minutes.
2 Comb hair using the removal comb, to remove any dead lice and eggs. Wash out the solution.
3 Repeat steps one and two after seven days to ensure any newly hatched eggs are eliminated. 

Available in both a solution and easy-to-use spray for added convenience, each bottle of Full Marks Solution contains approximately four treatments (3 in the spray) and comes complete with a removal comb. 

RRP $19.95. Full Marks is available from chemists nation wide.