I want YOU to be and stay healthy.
One of the best and most effective ways to combat illnesses is to teach children to wash their hands effectively. Squirting hand gel does NOT COUNT AS HAND WASHING. We must take time right now to teach and remind our little ones of the importance of hand washing. The bonus is that it is a sequencing activity for young learners. Add in a little song and you have a mini music lesson too.
What are you waiting for? Let’s get washing!
How to Teach My Child How to Wash their Hands
Teach your child how to wash their hands with modeling.
The first step is to model. That’s right wash your hands ALL THE TIME! Demonstrate appropriate hand washing techniques. Don’t just do a quick swish – wash the right way. Bring the kiddos in. Make it fun and talk about each step of hand washing that you do. Crank up the music and have a hand-washing party in the bathroom. Whatever it takes – I.M.O!
Then, let them practice. For an added literacy bonus – write the steps out on a piece of paper and tape it to the mirror.
Teach your child how to wash their hands with sequential steps:
Step 1. Turn the water on and let it get warm.
Step 2. Put your hands in the warm water.
Step 3. Add soap.
Step 4. Rub your hands and the soap together for 20 seconds.
Step 5. Rinse the soap off in the warm water.
Step 6. Dry with a clean towel.
Teach your child how to wash their hands with a song:
The song we sing:
To the tune of The Mulberry Bush
This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands.
This is the way we wash our hands _____.
We fill in the blank with any and all of the listed below phrases, because kids should be washing their hands much more than they actually do!
After playing outside.
Before lunch time.
After we use the bathroom.
After we sneeze.
In the morning.
Before we make the food.
For More Ideas on Teaching and Keeping Preschoolers Healthy:
Teaching Children About Feelings Vs. Behavior by Capri + 3
Letter Match Tooth Cleaning Game by Rainy Day Mumm
Brushing Teeth Song by Growing Book by Book
Elephants Toothpaste by Learning 2 Walk
Nutrition: Sorting and Categorizing Food by Mom Inspired Life
Healthy Food Habits in Preschool: Sorting and a Paper Plate Project by The Preschool Toolbox Blog
Asthma Action Plan by Tiny Tots Adventures
Hand Washing Sequencing and Song by The Educators’ Spin On It
Great song and advice – we're sick AGAIN, so on top of the keeping the house clean I'm going to teach both the kids the song for washing hands.
Perfect timing! We will be singing this song today. I am sick this time.
What a fun hand washing song! We will try that out today. It is catchy and easy to remember.
I agree. Hand washing is super important to teach kids. Great song!
You know I love a good song to help teach kids about all sorts of things. We will be using this one!
I have been teaching this all week after returning after having pneumonia and will be song this song in the morning. Thank you.
I teach prek and we also teach them to turn water off with a towel.
(to the tune of Fre a Jachues)
Tops and bottoms
Tops and bottoms
In between
In between
All around my hands
All around my hands
Now they're clean
Now they're clean
Teaching them to sing a song while they watch is super helpful!
My son loves to wash his hands now that he has learned to sing while doing it.