I’ve never met a parent who didn’t want their children to do well in school. So when I read Kerry Bone’s article in the September issue on how herbs can actually help boost IQ and test scores, I knew it would strike a chord with those of you who have a little one heading back to school.

But there’s another factor that plays a big part in keeping those test scores high — attendance. Schools are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria, and too many kids end up missing out on important lessons thanks to a bout of whatever’s “going around.” But you can help keep them healthy — and in class — with a few simple tips.

1.) Teach them the right way to wash their hands. Most people — especially kids — don’t spend enough time at the sink to really wash away potentially harmful microorganisms. A good rule of thumb is to keep washing until you’ve recited the ABCs from A to Z.

2.) Find a good quality children’s formula multivitamin that contains immune-boosting vitamins like C and E, and make it part of your family’s daily routine for everyone to take their vitamins before they leave the house in the morning. If you’re setting the example, your kids or grandkids are more likely to follow suit (and your own health will benefit in the process).

3.) Buy a small travel-sized bottle of antibacterial gel to put in your kids’ backpacks and remind them to use it a few times a day — especially after using a computer or other shared equipment or supplies.

4.) While you’re shopping for those brain-boosting herbs Kerry Bone recommended for your kids or grandkids, consider picking up some herbal immune boosters too. Kerry tells me Echinacea is especially effective for children, and he recommends following Clark’s rule to figure out the dose your child should take: Divide his or her weight in pounds by 150 to determine the fraction of the adult dose that he or she should take. (For example, if your child weighs 50 pounds, he should be given 1/3 of the adult dose.)

Be on the lookout for next month’s issue of Nutrition & Healing for the rest of Kerry’s top picks for herbal immune boosting in children. In the meantime, if you didn’t see his feature in the September 2006 issue on how herbs can help the students in your life get even smarter, you can download it by visiting www.wrightnewsletter.com and logging in with the username and password listed on page 8 of your most recent issue. And if you’re not already a subscriber, the website also offers details on becoming one.