Getting kids to wash their hands isn't always easy, but it is an effective way to reduce the spread of germs and illness. Kids should wash their hands frequently throughout the day. Hand washing is crucial after using the restroom, before eating, after playing outdoors, after touching animals and after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose. Hand washing instruction and practice gets children in the habit of washing properly.
Step 1
Place a step stool near the sink so the child is better able to reach the stream of water and the handles.
Step 2
Turn on the cold water first, followed by the hot water. This prevents burns that might occur if the hot water is turned on first. Allow the water to reach a warm temperature that is comfortable for the child. Warm water helps the child's hands get cleaner.
Step 3
Wet the hands under the warm water. Apply a generous amount of soap to the palm of the hand.
Step 4
Rub the hands together to create a lather with the soap. Wash all surfaces of the hands, including the palms, back of the hand, fingers and between the fingers.
Step 5
Sing the alphabet one time or "Happy Birthday" two times to indicate the length of time to scrub the hands. The song should last about 20 seconds, which is the recommended amount of time to wash hands, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 6
Rinse the soap lather off the hands with the warm water.
Step 7
Dry off the child's hands with a clean towel, paper towel or hand dryer. If you use a paper towel, use it to shut off the faucet. This prevents germs on the faucet handles from getting on clean hands.
Tips and Warnings
- Regular soap provides the same effectiveness as antibacterial soap in killing germs, according to the Mayo Clinic. Antibacterial soap is thought to increase bacteria's resistance, which makes the germs even more difficult to kill.
Things You'll Need
- Step stool
- Warm water
- Soap
- Towel
