Children:

Germs: They're so small you can't even see them. They multiply faster than the clothes that keep piling up on your floor. They're everywhere — they lurk in the water you drink, the food you eat, and the air you breathe. At this very moment they are in your stomach and on your skin. What's more, they've been around forever. Sound like creatures from a horror movie? Nope! They are germs or, more scientifically, microbes. And there is more than one kind of microbe out there. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa all qualify.

Some of them can make you really sick if you're not careful.

Most germs/microbes are harmless, and some even help to keep you healthy. But some can make you very sick. Every day you come in contact with hidden germs, pretty much everywhere you go. Some of their favorite hangouts are bathrooms, kitchens, the cafeteria, and the gym. And those are just the obvious places. They also hide on pencils (remember when you chewed on it?), remote controls or game controllers (like the one you sneezed on last week), phones, pet cages, computer keyboards, stair railings, and doorknobs — pretty much anything your hands can touch.

We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.

Germs can spread when people touch things that are covered with them (like the door handle in a public restroom). These germs get on your hand and spread to other parts of your body when you touch your eyes, ears, or mouth! And they don't stop there — you spread germs when you touch something or someone else. But there is one thing you can do to stop germs in their tracks. WASH YOUR HANDS!

Believe it or not, washing your hands is the single most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick or spreading your germs to others.