Teaching young
kids about hand
washing
Helping children to understand
why washing our hands is essential
is as important as teaching them
the proper technique for cleaning
them properly. And often, when
children understand the why, they
are more inclined to actually
comply with the when and how!
Germs are a pretty abstract
concept for kids to understand –
while they can see when their
hands are dirty they certainly
can’t see the microscopic
organisms that we call germs.
Finding ways to make this form of
abstract learning more hands-on
and tangible is very important to
learning. Simple science
experiments are fun for kids and
there are a number of
experiments that can help them
learn about germs.
While not scientifically directly
linked to germs (it’s actually
about surface tension), the
following simple experiment takes
just a few moments and acts as a
great demonstration for
reinforcing the importance of
thorough hand washing. Plus it
adds a little magic for kids – the
sort of magic that helps to make
the message memorable! All you
need is a bowl of water, some
black pepper and liquid hand
wash. Sprinkle the pepper onto
the surface of the water. It will
float. Tell your child that the
pepper represents germs. Dip your
hand gently into the water to see
what will happen to the pepper.
Nothing happens – just like not
much happens when they give
their hands a dip under a running
tap when washing their hands.
Take your hand out of the water,
dry it and coat it with hand soap.
Now dip your hand again into the
water. What happens to the
pepper? Magic, right! Discuss with
your child what is happening and
why.
Explain why handwashing really is
our best defense against many
kinds of bacteria and viruses that
cause infection. Children typically
don’t like to take the time to
wash their hands, but there are
ways you can make it fun using
games, songs and teaching them
about the germs.
Young children, toddlers and
preschoolers, learn through their
senses: touching, seeing, hearing,
tasting, smelling. Because germs
can’t be seen, felt, tasted, or
heard, making them tangible
through play is a great way to
teach the importance of proper
handwashing.
• Singing handwashing songs
• Drawing and coloring
• Building and crafts
•Telling stories—read books about
washing and germs.
Help them wash their hands:
1. Supervise their handwashing
after they use the toilet and
before they eat.
2. Let them see you wash your
hands throughout the day and
wash your hands with them.
3. Put handwashing reminders at
their eye level.
4. Every time they wash their
hands, reward them until it is
a habit.
5. Keep a stool by the sink so that
they can reach easily.
ACTIVITY IDEA 2:
EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH
You need: White paper, crayons,
and tape.
1. Have children draw and color
pictures of small germs on
paper.
2. H a v e c h i l d r e n t a p e t h e
pictures around the room on
everything they touch over a
1/2 hour period.
3. Look around at the room at the
end of that time and talk
about how they themselves
pick-up and spread germs like
these to all of these things.
ACTIVITY IDEA 3
COVER YOUR SNEEZE
(refer to below photo)
Using cardboard or a paper plate,
have your child draw and colour a
face. Glue on a clean, crumpled
paper towel and using your child’s
hand as a template cut out paper
hands from excess cardboard.
Glue these paper hands over
paper towel. Explain how germs
are transmitted when we cough
and sneeze and why covering our
nose and mouth is important.
Send us the completed DIY and we
just may publish yours!
DIY
Project
Cover your
cough, cover
your sneeze.
This is the way
we stay
healthy, please.
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