đ How to Handle Winter School Closures
Plus, navigating the winter's surge in childhood viruses.
Jed Baker
December 07, 2025
đ PARENTING
How Parents Can Navigate This Winterâs Surge in Childhood Viruses
Families across the country are feeling the strain of this winterâs sharp rise in flu, RSV, and other respiratory viruses, with classrooms seeing frequent absences and childcare schedules getting disrupted. Parents can create meaningful protection by focusing on small, sustainable habits that support their kidsâ immune systems and reduce household spread. Simple measures like improving ventilation, using a humidifier at night, and reinforcing handwashing before meals go a long wayâespecially when paired with consistent sleep routines that help children recover more quickly if they do get sick.
This season also rewards calm preparation rather than crisis mode. Staying home at the first sign of a fever, checking in with pediatricians about updated flu and COVID vaccines, and being realistic about kidsâ limits can keep families more stable week to week. When parents take a steady, proactive approach, children learn that health challenges can be managed with thoughtful choices rather than stress or fear.
Quick, Practical Tips for the Season
Encourage kids to wash hands for 20 seconds before meals and after school to cut down on viral spread.
Use a humidifier in bedrooms to keep airways moist, especially during dry winter nights.
Improve airflow by cracking windows for a few minutes a day or running HEPA purifiers in high-traffic rooms.
Prioritize sleep with consistent bedtimes so immune systems stay strong.
Keep kids home when fevers, deep coughs, or fatigue appear to reduce spread and support faster recovery.
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đ SCHOOL
What the Winter School Closures Mean for Families This Month
A wave of weather-related school closures across the country has left many parents scrambling to adjust routines, manage childcare on short notice, and keep kids engaged during unexpected days at home. Sudden schedule changes can create friction for both children and adults, especially when work obligations collide with disrupted school plans, but small shifts in preparation can make these unpredictable weeks feel less chaotic for everyone. Building a flexible structure for at-home daysâlight academic activities in the morning, movement breaks, and simple independent playâhelps kids stay regulated while giving parents breathing room to manage the day.
These closures also highlight how quickly children sense the emotional tone around them. When adults respond with calm, clear expectations rather than panic or frustration, kids adapt more easily and maintain better behavior throughout the day. Preparing for one or two more potential closures this season by setting up a âsnow day kit,â having a backup childcare plan, and communicating early with employers can transform last-minute disruptions into manageable, even enjoyable, time together.
Easy Ways to Stay Prepared
Create a simple âsnow day routineâ with predictable blocks for learning, play, and downtime.
Build a snow day kit with craft supplies, puzzles, baking mixes, and a few special-occasion activities kids donât normally get.
Schedule short movement breaksâindoor dance sessions, frozen tag, or mini yogaâto help release pent-up energy.
Set realistic work expectations with your employer the night before if a closure seems likely.
Keep a backup childcare plan ready, even if itâs just a neighbor swap or a short virtual activity that buys you focused time.
đ TLDR
How to Protect Your Kids From Respiratory Illnesses During Sick Season, According to Pediatricians Pediatric infectious-disease experts break down how flu, RSV, and other winter viruses spread, and outline practical steps families can takeâlike vaccination, masking in crowded spaces, and better ventilationâto lower kidsâ risk all season long.
How to Handle Tantrums and Meltdowns Child psychologists explain how to stay calm, set clear expectations, and use consistent routines and positive reinforcement so explosive moments become shorter, less frequent, and easier for kids to recover from.
Echolalia in Children: When Repeating Words Is Normal and When to Seek Help Neurologists and speech-language experts describe why echoing phrases is a typical part of early language development, and when persistent repetition can signal autism or other conditions that may benefit from evaluation.
Cooking with kids teaches healthy eating, life skills and more Registered dietitians and educators highlight how bringing children into the kitchen builds confidence, math and reading skills, and more adventurous eating while strengthening family bonds away from screens.
Katherine Schwarzenegger Reveals Her Plan to Navigate the 'Crazy, Hectic' Back-to-School Season with Her 4 Children Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt shares how early bedtimes, consistent routines, and small moments of presence help her manage back-to-school chaos with four kids while giving herself grace on the hard days.
