Tips for making handwashing a habit among youngsters. One of the simplest, cheapest, and most important methods to keep your child safe from sickness is to teach them to wash their hands often.
Here are some recommendations for making handwashing a lifelong healthy habit:
1. Explain the benefits of handwashing
Explain to your kid that washing their hands can protect them from germs and viruses that can make them and others sick. Teach children that bacteria, even if they are invisible, can still exist. Explain to them that frequent handwashing is just as essential as brushing your teeth and eating a nutritious diet.
2. Demonstrate the correct steps of handwashing
Explain that a short scrub and rinse will not eradicate all infection-causing germs from your hands. Here is a step-by-step approach to effective handwashing:
- Step 1: Wet hands with running water
- Step 2: Apply enough soap to cover wet hands
- Step 3: Scrub all surfaces of the hands – including back of hands, between fingers and under nails – for at least 20 seconds
- Step 4: Rinse thoroughly with running water
- Step 5: Dry hands with a clean cloth or single-use towel
3. How long should you wash hands?
Hands should be cleansed with soap for at least 20-30 seconds. One simple approach to do this is to sing the entire “happy birthday” song twice. The same goes if you use hand sanitizer. To ensure complete coverage, apply a sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol and massage it into your hands for 20 seconds. Remember that hand sanitizer is hazardous if eaten and should only be used with adult supervision.
4. Set the times they should be washing their hands
Your child should wash their hands frequently throughout the day. Here are some of the times you should always wash your hands:
- When hands are visibly dirty
- Before and after eating
- After using the toilet
- After touching animals and pets
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
5. Turn it into a fun family activity
Here are some ways you can help children wash their hands by making handwashing easier and fun for them:
Make it easy: Set up a stool to make it easier for smaller children to reach the sink by themselves. Place the soap within the child’s reach. A timer by the sink can help them count down from 20.
Make it fun: Sing a song together — like the ABCs or “happy birthday” — while washing hands. This can also help to keep you scrubbing for 20 seconds. Use a fun soap, something colourful, that foams well or smells good, or comes in an interesting shape.
Make it routine: Set a time for handwashing, like when your child gets home and right before eating or going to bed. Make sure they wash their hands after coughing and sneezing.
Help them understand: Teach them about how even though germs are invisible, they could still be there. When children understand why they need to wash their hands, they’re likely to continue doing so.
Make it a family affair: Set a good example by getting everyone at home to wash their hands at key moments too!
Source: UNICEF PARENTING
