Whilst parents across the nation will be breathing a sigh of relief as their child heads back to school this week, there’s a high chance they could bring back an unwanted gift at some point during term time. From head lice to athlete’s foot, natural active foot care specialist, The Feets, reveals how to help kids avoid, or at least eradicate, some of the most common (and contagious) schoolyard infections.

As children head back to school, parents expect to see fridge-worthy artwork and handmade crafts coming home. But alongside those sweet surprises, there’s a good chance they could also bring back bugs, illness and infections.

Chickenpox
Chickenpox remains one of the most common contagious illnesses among school-age children. While generally harmless, it can be extremely uncomfortable and highly infectious. Unfortunately, apart from paying for your child to get the vaccine at a local pharmacy, there’s not much you can do to avoid it, especially when you consider that contagion is at its highest before symptoms even appear, but knowing the signs and acting quickly is key. Keep your child at home until five days after the last of the spots have scabbed over.

However, from January 2026, the NHS will offer free chickenpox vaccines to all children, given in two doses at 12 and 18 months of age, so parents of younger children can now avoid the issue altogether.

Conjunctivitis
Whether viral or bacterial, conjunctivitis (or “pink eye”) spreads quickly in classrooms. Typically, it requires antibiotic drops and good hygiene to clear up. The good news? Children don’t need to stay home from school unless symptoms are severe, but regular handwashing and avoiding shared towels can help keep it at bay without pharmaceuticals.

Head Lice
A familiar nuisance for many families, head lice love school environments. They spread through head-to-head contact and are tricky to prevent. If one child has lice, chances are the whole household may need checking and treating. Keeping long hair tied up helps, as does combing regularly with a nit comb. You can also find preventative sprays in your local chemist to help put those pesky critters off.

Athlete’s Foot (the one you can avoid)
Unlike many schoolyard infections, athlete’s foot is one issue parents and kids can actively prevent, making sure it does not get brought home to infect the whole famliy! This itchy, uncomfortable fungal infection thrives in warm, damp conditions like sweaty shoes, dirty school gymbags, or shared changing rooms. But with proper care, your kids can sidestep infection even if those around them have got it.

The Feets’ top tips for preventing athlete’s foot include:

Pack a spare pair of clean, cotton socks in your child’s school bag for rainy days or sweaty feet.
Make sure they never walk barefoot in communal spaces such as swimming pools or locker rooms. Lightweight sandals or Crocs work well.
Apply a natural foot powder before P.E. or sports activities to keep moisture and fungus at bay and reduce the risk of infection.

Logan Estop-Hall, Founder of The Feets, commented:

“Shipping our children back off to school can bring some welcome respite after a very long summer holiday and whilst we’re lucky that UK schools are largely a safe place for them to learn, they can also be a hotbed of various bugs, infections and illness.

So it’s inevitable that, at some point, they’re likely to return with more than just their backpack and an empty lunchbox and, in most cases, there’s not much we can do as parents to prevent the likes of chickenpox.

However, athlete’s foot is one issue you can proactively protect your child against. By building healthy footcare habits early on, children can stay comfortable and confident, and the right natural product can ensure that feet stay clean, dry, and fungus-free – without the need for rubbing lots of harsh chemicals on your little one’s feet.

When it comes to footcare, the best treatment is always prevention – keeping their feet dry and clean is essential and there are also plenty of fantastic, natural, organic footcare products available to add an extra layer of protection – like The Feets!”