’Tis the season for family, food and fun. But health experts warn it’s also prime time for spreading illness.

“With togetherness comes sharing, and inevitably part of sharing is sharing our exposures and our germs,” said Dr. Michael Zier, chief medical officer at Bluebirds Kid Health. “In pediatrics, we typically see a rise in illness shortly after the holidays, and we are expecting that.”

So what can families do? Experts say start with the basics: good hand hygiene.

Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds — about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

“It’s simple and straightforward, but it’s something we as parents have to model for our children and encourage all the time,” Zier said.

Another big one: sleep. • Preschoolers: up to 14 hours • School-aged kids:

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