Germs in school settings can live on hard surfaces, like desks, cafeteria tables and doorknobs for up to two hours - whenever the surface is touched and the child rubs his or her eyes, nose or mouth, those germs have an easy way to infect the child. When he sneezes or coughs, teach him to keep those germs away from his hands so they can't move on to other surfaces.{relatedarticles}The best way to do this is to cough or sneeze into the crook of the elbow or a tissue, which should be thrown away promptly. The importance of eating healthfully and drinking enough water should be emphasized to kids - a healthy breakfast in the morning helps them learn better, too. If your child does get sick, then keep him home until he isn't infectious anymore to prevent the spread of germs in the classroom.