How to Make Hand Washing Fun for Kids
For some kids, washing their hands is a pesky annoyance done quickly and haphazardly to get it over with. Other kids, especially younger ones are enthused but tend to make a big mess in their zealousness. Still others look at hand washing time as play time, drawing pictures on the mirror with sudsy hands. No matter what style of hand washer you have, teaching kids how to properly wash hands is essential for protecting them from germs and disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. By introducing kid-friendly soaps, singing songs and making this task a game, you make proper hand-washing an activity the kids look forward to, which will go a long way in turning this into a life-long habit.
Things You'll Need
- Kid-friendly hand soap
Instructions
Use cool soap. Shop for hand soap geared towards children, which typically comes in brightly colored or animal-shaped dispensers. You can use foaming soap, which many kids enjoy, soap with kid-friendly scents like bubble gum or even bright-colored liquid soap. Ensure the soap is safe for kids. Place a child's nonskid stepping stool in the bathroom if he needs help reaching the sink. Never leave a toddler alone in the bathroom. Sing a hand-washing song. Most germs are washed away in 20 seconds, so help your child come up with a song that takes that long to sing. This might be one verse of the "Happy Birthday" song, a nursery rhyme, a TV show's theme song or any other short song he wants to make his "hand-washing song." Remind him to sing his hand-washing song while rubbing the soap on his hands, including his wrists and in between his fingers. He can only rinse the soap off after the song is over. Make hand-washing a game. For the kid who loves to play anything you call a game, teach him the most important times he should be washing his hands, including after using the bathroom, when he's coming from outside, before and after mealtime, after coughing or sneezing, or after handling a pet. Tell your child that each time he remembers to wash his hands in those situations, without needing reminding from you, he "wins," and if you have to remind him, you win that round. Keep a handwashing chart. If your kid is a reluctant hand-washer that needs a little incentive, put a handwashing chart somewhere he can easily see it. Explain to your child that you will add a sticker to the chart each time you see him wash his hands properly without complaint. When the chart is all filled up with stickers, give him a small reward.