Observation of K Kindergarten revealed that the habit of washing one\u27s hands and gargling, brushing teeth, eating, exercising, and playing were the minimum necessary conditions for young children to achieve mental and physical health and grow and develop while interacting within a group. Such an educational environment is believed to have prevented the prevalence of norovirus infection. Looking at the attitude with which the teachers at K Kindergarten treated their charges, it was apparent that they gave due consideration to the mental, and physical development of the children. In the area of acquisition of daily living habits, the initiative of the children was respected. Absolutely no commands or scoldings were observed. As for washing hands, all of the children carefully washed between their fingers and all the way to the tips of their fingers. The kindergarten was also attentive to games and exercises so as to nurture the initiative of children. Of the basic living habits necessary for young children to remain healthy and grow and develop wholesomely both mentally and physically, washing one\u27s hands and gargling, in particular, are believed to have been instrumental in preventing infectious/contagious diseases including norovirus infection, an epidemic of which occurred this winter
