How to Teach Your Child to Wash His Hands

Why teach your children to wash their hands? Regular, thorough hand washing is everyone's best defense against germs. Unfortunately, many children (and even adults) don't do it often enough. The It's A SNAP hand hygiene program says that according to a 1997 study, "only 58% of female and 48% of male middle and high school students washed their hands after using the bathroom. Of these, only 33% of the females and 8% of the males used soap."

It's a SNAP also says that "One study involving Detroit school children showed that scheduled hand washing, at least four times a day, can reduce gastrointestinal illness and related absences by more than 50%." Clearly, it is essential to teach children from a young age to wash their hands regularly, and especially after using the bathroom. Here are some tips for teaching children to wash their hands.

Start Early
Be a role model, and wash your hands after every diaper change. When you start potty training your child, help her wash her hands every time, even if she didn't actually go.

Have the Right Equipment
You'll need a stepstool to help your child reach the sink, a soap dispenser or bar soap within reach, and a towel at an accessible height. You should clear any extra items out of the way. Special children's soaps are available; they don't work any better than regular soap, but your child may be motivated by a fun soap.

Make It Fun
Sing the ABC's or another song of equal or great length while washing hands. This ensures that you're washing your hands long enough, too - the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends at least 20 seconds.

Do It the Right Way
The CDC's recommended steps are:

• Wet hands with clean water (preferably warm and running).
• Apply soap.
• Rub hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing all surfaces.
• Rinse hands under running water.
• Dry hands.
  

Post Reminders
Make a picture sign for non-readers, or a written sign for older children. Change the sign every so often, so that it doesn't become a near-invisible part of the scenery. Make it funny!

Be Prepared
Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse, diaper bag, car, wherever you might need it. All too often, public restroom facilities are not clean and well stocked, and sometimes they're nonexistent. If you're using hand sanitizer instead of washing hands, be sure to rub it thoroughly over all parts of the hands and fingers until they are dry. Be sure to keep young children from eating hand sanitizer, as it is hazardous if eaten.

It's a Habit
If you can get your child washing every bathroom trip, every day for at least 30 days, it will become a habit that he or she hardly notices! Well done.

SOURCES
It's a SNAP, "Clean Hands Statistics", http://www.itsasnap.org/snap/statistics.asp
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Clean Hands Save LIves", http://www.cdc.gov/cleanhands/