Cold and flu prevention at the Kids’ Club at Bodyworks in Lubbock, TX, includes cleaning toys and surfaces several times each day. Photo courtesy of Bodyworks.

Cleanliness in a fitness facility’s child care area is a year-round concern, but combating cold and flu germs that can run rampant among children during the winter requires more diligence, time and attention.

“We are definitely on high alert this time of year, and the staff is extra vigilant just because it is more likely that kids will be coming in with more germs,” says Amy Hyatt, director of Kids’ Clubs at Bodyworks, Lubbock, TX. “The staff keeps an eye out for children that may show any signs of illness so they can be sent home.”

Keeping sick kids out of your child care area is a good first step, but chances are that a sick child will slip in. The Marsh, Minnetonka, MN, keeps hand sanitizer by the door of the Kids Club, so anyone can use it as an additional precaution, says Mindy Olson, The Marsh’s Kids Club director.

Cleaning often throughout the day—including wiping down tables, chairs, doorknobs, handles and any surfaces touched by curious little hands, especially the toys—helps to prevent the spread of germs. Kim Smith, Karing for Kids supervisor at the Centre Club in Libertyville, IL, says that her main focus is what the children are playing with or on. As soon as a child is done playing with a toy, staff puts it into a tub in the sink area to be disinfected with an antibacterial solvent, Smith says.

“We stay on top of the toys and surfaces that the kids are touching so we can keep them clean and sanitized,” Smith says.

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