Keeping kids germ-free might be near impossible! Unless of course you have the energy to run after your toddler with a bar of soap? Or perhaps you have the time to wipe down your little one after every recess? Probably not. As a parent, the most you can hope for is that you’ve taught your kids well and that they’ll remember to wash their hands before lunch or sneeze into a tissue, instead of the face of a schoolmate.

With nearly 22 million children missing school each year because of the common cold, it’s imperative, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that kids practice good hygiene both at school and in the home, to avoid giving extra work to their natural defenses.

Here are a few tips (via the CDC website) on how to teach your kids about germs and how to get rid of them:

1. Sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice while lathering hands. Have your young one lather long enough to sing through two rounds. A good scrubbing action will help removing and dislodging germs.
2. Since some germs can live on surfaces for up to two hours (and more), remind your kids to keep their fingers and hands away from eyes, ears and mouth to avoid the spread of cold and flu germs.
3.  In his or her schoolbag, pack a small bottle of anti-bacterial gel or a travel pack of wipes (check with school policy on this first)—handy for pre- and post-lunchtime cleanup or for after recess.
4. If tissues aren’t available, teach your little one about sneezing or coughing into his or her elbow (preferably into a sleeve) to help stop the spread of germs.
5. Wash, wash, wash! Without making your little one paranoid about germs, talk about the importance of clean hands and fingernails to help them stay healthy. Most kids like to know that they’re doing “boring” things (like brushing their teeth or washing their hands) for a good reason.