How to Teach Kids Good Hand Washing Habits
Researchers estimate that if everyone were to wash their hands correctly and routinely, one million fewer people would die each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teaching our children to wash their hands can keep them safe by preventing the spread of germs. Children learn best in a step-by-step fashion, and they need time to put into practice what they've learned many times before it becomes second nature.
Things You'll Need
- Soap
- Water
- Glitter
Instructions
Talk to the kids about germs. Make sure they understand how germs are passed from one person to another and why we don't want to germs -- they make us sick. Explain that washing your hands can get rid of germs. Make sure kids know when they are supposed to wash their hands. Kids should know that they need to wash their hands after using the bathroom, after coming in from outside, after coughing or sneezing, before preparing food, and before eating. Demonstrate the steps of hand washing to kids. Show them how to wet their hands with warm water, add soap, lather, rub their hands together for at least 20 seconds, rinse their hands, and then dry them well. Put glitter all over the kids' hands and challenge them to try to wash off all the glitter. Experiment with them to see whether their hands get cleaner from the "glitter germs" when they use plain water, soap and water, five seconds of rubbing, twenty seconds of rubbing, or other variations on the rules. This is especially helpful for kinesthetic learners who learn by doing, rather than by hearing you talk about a topic. Supervise children during hand washing sessions for the next few weeks. Gently remind them to redo a step if they forget to wash their hands completely, or if they forgot one of the steps. Give children as much positive reinforcement as you can when they remember to wash their hands correctly, or when they remember to wash their hands without you reminding them.
