It starts with a sniffle -- next thing you know, the whole household is sneezing, coughing, and passing the tissue box around.  Before long, the common cold, or worse, seasonal flu, is upon you.

 

According to the CDC, up to 20% of the population gets the flu each year.  The Mayo Clinic cites the common cold as the number one culprit of stay-home-sick-from-school days in children.

 

While you can't completely germ-proof your child, you can separate fact from fiction to keep your family healthier, and save time, money, and frustration.  Start by putting some of the more common myths and misunderstandings to rest by reading about the top 3 cold and flu related myths.

 

Myth #1:  The flu vaccine causes the flu

Truth:  Getting a flu shot may cause symptoms that feel like the flu, but the viruses contained in the flu shots have been killed, or "inactivated," which means they can't cause infection.  While there may be some achy side effects that can sometimes follow the flu shot, it just means your immune system is responding and processing the vaccine.

 

Myth #2:  You're more likely to get sick if you're cold

Truth:  Despite Mom's warnings that you should bundle up, being cold does not cause a cold.  According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, infections prevail in winter months because they are spread when more people stay indoors for longer periods of time and are in closer contact with each other.

 

Myth #3:  Hugging and kissing are great ways to spread cold and flu germs

Truth:  Cold and flu viruses like to enter the body through the nose or eyes, so a hug or a peck on the cheek isn't likely to be dangerous.  Don't be afraid to give your sick child plenty of affection, and don't worry that a kiss or hug will spread your germs to him (or vice-versa).

 

Many parents recognize The Little Gym locations as safe and clean gyms for children.  We work hard to ensure each and every visit lives up to your expectations.  Daily and weekly cleaning and sanitation helps keep our environment sparkly and keep the germs away.

 

What can you do to assist us during cold and flu season?  As with any other illness, we ask that you do not bring your child to the gym for class if your child is coughing or sneezing more than usual, or has had a fever within the last 24 hours.  Our generous make-up policy allows your child to attend a make-up class by simply calling the gym to alert us in advance of missing your regular class!