Children usually can go to child care or school with an active infection, but to prevent spreading the cold sore virus to other children it’s smart to keep them home if they drool a lot or are having their very first cold sore outbreak. Try to prevent your child from scratching or picking at cold sores. This can spread the virus to other parts of the body, such as fingers and eyes, as well as to other children who touch toys and other objects they play with. Wash hands and clean toys regularly. If your child has cold sores, it’s important to teach him or her how to keep from spreading them to others.