Hygiene Habits for Kids: Ensuring Cleanliness During Monsoon

Maintaining a hygiene regime of washing hands, using sanitisers and clean surfaces is essential for the safety of children during monsoon

Kids might enjoy the rain more than adults, but they are also more susceptible to falling ill due to greater exposure to the elements

As the monsoon in India peaks, the excitement associated with it is slowly subsiding, even as its adverse effects begin to show.

The annual visitor brings a lot of magic, hope and succour to various communities, reviving the parched land and dissipating the summer heat.

Every region in India, more or less, receives some rainfall and the monsoon magic works on each one of us. However, children enjoy the rains more than the adults. They love to splash around and play in the waters and this makes them more vulnerable to ailments and infections.

The moist and damp weather also makes maintaining a high level of hygiene a steep challenge, which could also make people vulnerable to infection, particularly children and the elderly.

One has to be extra careful about hygiene during monsoons as wet conditions and moist surfaces become breeding grounds for germs and microbes, exposure to which could lead to infections and a range of illnesses.

Among the particular dangers of the monsoon are the mosquitoes that breed in the moist and damp environment, bringing with them diseases like Malaria, Dengue, chikungunya etc.

Damp walls and floors, leakages and water seepages become unavoidable in most households, particularly in areas where the rainfall is more intense. In low-lying areas there is a constant threat of flooding and little bit of indifference could lead to water entering the houses.

Under these conditions it is essential to maintain a hygiene regime tailored for this wet season. It is particularly essential for the little ones.

Here is what you can do ensure cleanliness during monsoon:

Spotless floors

During rainy season, there is a greater chance of the floors getting dirty, with dirt entering the house through various routes. Children coming in an out constantly could also lead to the entry of dirt. Dirty and moist feet are a reality during monsoon, bringing with them not just mud and slush but also germs.

Keeping the floor clean becomes particularly challenging during this season.

Washing the feet before entering the house could not just help in ensuring cleaner floors, but also healthier kids. Placing a dry mat inside the front door, will also help in keeping the floors and feet clean to some extent.

Ensure there is no water leakage from the roof, leading to wet floors, which could children to fall. Wet floors are also susceptible to mould and mildew growth.

To avoid these problems, maintain a regular regime of wiping and moping the floor and make sure to use disinfectants to kill the germs.

If you your floor is carpeted, vacuum regularly to prevent dirt and moisture from accumulating. Dirty carpets could also be breeding grounds for infections and respiratory disorders.

Either carpeted or tiled floors, ensure your children are touching or sitting on the floor as little as possible.

Bathrooms and toilets

The biggest breeding grounds of germs at home are bathrooms and toilets and during monsoon they become all the more active due to high water flow and the mixing of rainwater with sewage. 

As our children visit washrooms regularly, it is essential to keep such spaces clean and constantly check for the intrusion of pests and bacterial infestations. Regular use of disinfectants and toilet cleaners can help maintain good hygienic conditions in the washrooms. 

Use of bathroom cleaners also help in preventing the growth of mould and mildew, which thrive under moist and damp conditions.

Above all of these, inculcate the habit of washing their hands every time your children visits the washroom. 

Also regularly remind them not to touch their faces while using the washroom.

Clean kitchen

Kitchen is the heart of the house and a clean and hygienic kitchen is like the healthy heart of a person.

A clean, hygienic and a well-organised kitchen sets the tone of hygiene and cleanliness for the entire house and it also ensures hygienic food for the entire family, keeping everyone safe from food-borne diseases.

Food poisoning is particularly common during monsoon and children are most vulnerable. Primary reason for this is the lack of hygiene while preparing food or while eating. This becomes a particular challenge during monsoon, under damp and moist conditions, with water flowing from all sides.

Keeping the kitchen clean and protected from the effects of rain is highly important to ensure the safety of the entire family.

Clean hands

Your hands constantly touch various surfaces as well as various parts of your body, transporting germs and microbes to different places. Hence, washing hands regularly and keeping your hands clean is highly important. This becomes all the more essential during monsoon, when there is a greater chance of contracting infection. Maintaining a regular regime of washing hands and inculcating this habit among children will protect them from dangers to a large extent. This is particularly important before eating or touching food.

Clean dishes

Do not let unwashed dishes accumulate in the sink for long, this could breed germs and attract pests, this is particularly dangerous during monsoon, when the microbes and critters are extra active. Develop the habit of washing your plates and glasses immediately after eating. Also make sure you wash your plates and glasses before using them, make sure the children also do the same.

Eat fresh

Try to eat fresh as much as possible during monsoon, as stale food could carry bacteria and could upset your stomach.

Make sure not to keep leftover food open or outside. Refrigerate the leftover as well as fruits and vegetables, to prevent them from spoiling and attracting flies and other insects.

Wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating as they could be carrying a lot of alien objects, passing through various hands in the market and field.

Sanitise

Hand sanitisers became a rage during Covid-19, showing us their benefits against germs and viruses and making many people aware of their existence for the first time.

Using sanitisers regularly during monsoon could help you keep the bacteria and viruses away, it will come as particularly handy for children, who wouldn’t want to wash their hands regularly.

Make sure the kids use sanitisers whenever they come in contact with dirty surfaces or use washrooms.

Conclusion

From Leaking roofs and water seepages through walls and windows or the overflow of the gutters and downspouts, monsoon brings in a lot of challenges to every household. The most important task among all the excitement and distractions is to keep the children safe. It is difficult for the adults to hold them back or to keep up with children’s exuberance and energy, hence, putting in place a regime of hygiene and cleanliness is essential in ensuring minimal levels of safety!