The physical isolation many children are experiencing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic really won’t hurt their immune systems. There are enough bacteria and germs in every household to ramp up a child’s immune system and get it functioning at the same level as it would if they were playing with friends at the playground and interacting with other kids at school.

Children might be exposed to a larger variety of cold and flu viruses once they get back out into the world and return school and other public areas, but the real danger to kids who are saying at home are other children who aren’t getting their vaccines. Diseases like measles, mumps and whooping cough can cause serious harm and are easily prevented with routine vaccinations.

Get more tips from Dr. Bellard on this episode of Pandemic Parenting, a Facebook Live event featuring NBC’s Barbara Harrison.