Top ways to keep your kids healthy this flu season

The start of winter means cold-weather sports and the holidays, but unfortunately it also heralds the arrival of flu season. The colder weather typically brings an increase in the number of cases of the flu, and for worrisome dads who are concerned about their child's health, it can be a stressful time of year.

Young kids are especially vulnerable to the virus, and the effects are typically more severe due to their underdeveloped immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an average of 20,000 children under the age of five are hospitalized because of the flu each year. To protect their youngsters, dads should work to instill healthy habits.

The most significant practice to encourage, is covering their mouths when they sneeze with a tissue. Using hands or an arm can further the spread of bacteria and germs. Kids should also be warned not to share items such as water bottles to limit the spread of the virus.

Additionally, the CDC suggests fathers should emphasize the importance of hand washing. While it is always important, it is especially crucial to keep hands free of germs. As a final measure, kids should be told not to touch their eyes, nose and mouth during the flu season as that is an easy way for germs to enter their bodies.