Since the pandemics hit our lives, we have become more conscious of the importance of frequent hand washing. The pathogens are all around us, forcing us to stay alert. Even though we can take care of ourselves, getting our kids on the same page can be quite a daunting task. Therefore, we have developed a list of fun ways to teach children about proper hand hygiene. Whether you’re looking for a washing hands activity for toddlers, pre-schoolers, or kindergarteners, we’ve got you covered!
Washing hands is an integral part of every child’s hygiene routine. Whether your child is in kindergarten or preparing for their primary classes, these fun ways to teach kids how to wash hands will be a hit!
How to teach hand washing
Teaching kids how to wash hands can be quite a task. How to make washing hands fun for your children, you ask? Use these engaging methods to teach them about proper handwashing techniques. After all, it’s never too early to teach children about the significance of hand hygiene!
Before we dive into the methods, let’s learn about handwashing steps:
- Wet your hands.
- Apply soap.
- Scrub your hands by rubbing them together for 20 seconds.
- Rinse thoroughly.
Indulge in a hand washing song
Indulging in a handwashing song is an excellent method to learn about hand hygiene. There are numerous kids’ music channels with different songs to motivate and entertain kids. One such song is “Learn to Wash Your Hands.” It is a fun song that serves as a visual aid to help motivate your kids to wash their hands. Watch it with your children while they wash their hands.
You can also turn towards other music collections – anything that keeps your kids entertained. Find a terrific collection of handwashing tunes to keep your kids indulged in the task at hand. The following is a list of handwashing songs that can come in handy for you:
- Happy Hands
- Wash Your Hands with Baby Sharks
- CoComelon’s Wash your Hands song
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Explore science experiments with your kids
The Soccer Mom Blog’s Glitter Germy Hands Experiment demonstrates easy ways to handwash. It’s a great approach to instill excellent hygiene in children. You can also explore other handwashing experiments on the internet. Make sure they have easy steps that are more in pace with your child’s knowledge.
Some of the easy handwashing experiments are as follows:
- Toddler’s Approved Wash Your Hands Sensory Bin
- Learn and practice hand cleaning with this hands-on approach
- Germs Science Fair
- Hand Painting
- Petri Dish Experiment
Find posters advocating proper hand sanitation
Use an eye-catching poster to reinforce the importance of handwashing among children. You can download printable hand washing posters and activities for kids. There are plenty of amusing “wash your hands” signs to choose from for your bathroom or kitchen sinks! If you get one, you might want to consider laminating your printable hand washing instructions because things around the sink tend to get splashed.
Parents, teachers, and kids of all ages can benefit from these free handwashing posters readily available in both color and monochrome tones. The following is the list of handwashing posters:
- Hand Washing Poster from Childhood101 to Teach Children about Hand Washing
- Messy Little Monster’s Hand Washing Activity and Coloring Page
- Hand Washing Poster from Nurturestore.com
- A Step Stool View of a Handwashing Bingo Game
- Scholastic’s Poster about Hand Washing
- Sequel to the Simple Living Creative Learning video series about hand washing
Help your child make their own soap
One of the most effective creative activities for preschoolers is getting them involved in the soap-making process. This way, they will be engrossed in the process by exploring their creativity. Besides, making a soap bar at home is relatively easy (and so much fun!).
How to make soap from scratch
When your local store is out of a spa, hand sanitizer, and other cleaning items, these homemade soap recipes make washing your hands extra fun!
- Unicorn Horn Soap by STEM
- The Art Bar Blog has a recipe for homemade rainbow soap by the Art Bar Blog
- Natural Beach Living’s Mermaid Whipped Soap
- Kids Activities Blog’s Treat Soap
The following is an easy recipe to make homemade soaps with the help of your child:
Step 1:
Slice citrus fruits (lemons, limes, and oranges) into 1/8-inch-thick slices and allow them to air dry completely. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Place your citrus on a wire rack over a pan and bake for 2-3 hours, or until dry. The amount of time it takes is directly proportional to the thickness and width of your slices. Remove the dried citrus to cool.
Step 2:
Place your soap base chunks in a microwave-safe container and microwave for a few minutes. Stirring every 20-30 seconds will help ensure that the texture is smooth and melted. Add essential oils to the melted soap base.
Step 3:
Ask your kid to assist you in laying out the lemon slices before you begin pouring the soap.
Step 4:
Pour the soap base into the molds with your child’s assistance. Supervise them while they do it. Pop the soaps out of the molds after a few hours, and you’ll have a beautiful batch of handcrafted citrus soap!
Prepare worksheets
Kids will like engaging and educational worksheets that can keep them entertained and help them wash their hands. Here are a few useful worksheet ideas:
- Worksheets for Frozen Preschool
- Printables for Children’s Beach Education
- Free Superhero Worksheets in a Bundle
- Worksheets for Rapunzel the Red-Headed Princess
- Printable Weather Charts
- One Hundred Kids’ Recipes to Try
- Preschool Color Worksheets
- Coloring Pages for Children Who Help Others in the Community
- Shape Crafts
Use a reward system
Using a reward system like a sticker chart or a smiling chart can be a great way to keep your child on track. Track your development by practicing it 15-20 times a day over the next few days. The following are some stickers that can help accomplish the task:
- The “I washed my hands” sticker
- It’s time to wash your hands!
- A good-job sticker
Utilize sensory bins
Using a sensory table or bin, you can teach your children how to remove fake germs from frozen hands. Taking the “germs” from their hands and transferring them to another set of “hands” can help your youngster understand the importance of handwashing.
Supplies
- Latex Gloves
- Water
- Freezer
- Markers that can be cleaned up with soap and water
- Table with water or a big bin
- Soap
- Towel
Procedure
- Put some water in a latex glove. You should give it a little extra space to grow. Put in the freezer for a night.
- Color them using washable markers in the morning.
- Put in a water table or a large plastic container.
- Make it fun for your kids to clean their hands by following the handwashing steps.
- Ask them to wet your hands first and add soap to the water.
Color a handwashing book
Another enjoyable way to practice proper handwashing is to color a printable handwashing book. You can also make it yourself by sewing the books together. Moreover, making their own books and coloring them in is a great approach to give your child a sense of pride in their achievements.
Watch movies with your child
Watching movies that involve kids is a great way to keep your child motivated to be on their best behavior. They will mimic the kid in the movies and indulge in good habits more enthusiastically. “Heart Association of the American – Why does handwashing work so well?” is ideal for science-minded students in middle and high school. It explains why soap is so crucial and how it tears away the fatty covering of COVID-19 cells in detail. “Clean Hands – Rinse Those Fingernails!” is another movie that promotes handwashing.
Involve your kids in handwashing activities
Getting your kid involved in different activities will keep them motivated and enthusiastic. One of the best activities on the block is Glitter Germs.
The activity of glitter germs
You’ll need to spread sprinkling glitter all over the place to teach your child about the spread of germs. Choose a plant-based, biodegradable glitter to avoid harming the environment.
Supplies:
- Glitter hand sanitizer or lotion
- Bowl
- spoon
Steps:
- Add glitter to lotion or hand sanitizer in a tiny dish.
- Show it to your kid by rubbing a small quantity on your palms.
- Put some on their hands and rub it in.
- Make a joke about how the glitter is spreading like germs.
- Have your kids run their hands under the faucet for a few seconds to see how much soap is still on them.
FAQs
- How can I make handwashing more enjoyable for kids?
Engage your kids in sing-alongs and handwashing activities. Incorporate soap surfing into your kid’s life and set them on a cleaning mission. You can also blow bubbles to keep your kids entertained and invested in the task simultaneously.
- How do you make handwashing games?
Hand games for kids are effective. The following are some ways to make handwashing games a breeze for your kids:
- Washing hands for 20/25/30 seconds
- Sing “Happy Birthday” while washing your hands.
- Make a soap bubble and sing the ABCs while you wash your hands
- Wash your hands and commend yourself
- What are some fun ways to teach handwashing?
The following are some fun ways to teach handwashing:
- Singalong
- Peppers experiment
- Glitter germs activity
- Bread experiment
- How do you teach a child about personal hygiene?
Educate your child about personal hygiene from a young age. Set a positive example for them by establishing personal hygiene as a daily obligation. Be sure to check back often. Encourage them to take care of their personal hygiene.
Final words
And that’s a wrap on “How to teach handwashing in a fun way.” Kids washing hands is such a pretty sight. Therefore, you need to train your kids to incorporate this habit into their daily lives. After all, hand hygiene education is important.