PREVENTION!!

Although prevention is a great strategy for beating all The Crabbies, it is specifically crucial for Achey! After all, once the Achey Crabbies get you, being sick can really drag on. And once you’re feeling sick, it may be hard to BEAT anything, much less strong-arm Achey, into submission.

Two obvious rules for preventing the spread of germs:

• After using the bathroom
• After eating
• After blowing your nose

2. KEEP HANDS OUT OF MOUTHS AT ALL TIMES

Obviously, even with the best of intentions and great follow-through, people are going to get sick, and Achey will certainly do his best to exploit the opportunity.

Once someone is sick you can successfully BEAT Achey to the punch much the same way you fight Too-Tired.

The name of the game is sleep!

It's just like the doctor ordered: “Drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of sleep.”

Also, be sure to give the child the proper medicine. If you have struggles with getting a child to take it, drink fluids, etc., remember that sick kids don’t have a lot of energy and Achey will be pushing hard on the ‘disagreeable button,’ so be as gentle and encouraging and patient as you can be. (Yes, even when they’re screaming!! We all know this is not easy, to say the least, but what the heck, maybe you’ll make sainthood!)

A quick tip: be sure to give any meds all the way through however many days the prescription says. This will help keep the strongest GERMS still sneaking around inside from surviving and coming back!

Often times, creating a chart of how many doses there are and crossing out a dose each time the child takes one, works well. You could even tie taking all the medicine to BEATING The Achey Crabbies!

Don’t hesitate to give a sticker or a candy treat after each dose.

(Maybe even after naps too! Be creative! You CAN win!)