Five Simple Steps For Proper Handwashing
Handwashing is something we do every single day and a habit we’re taught at a young age. But it’s not something we really talk about regularly…until now.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, handwashing has become a topic that’s front and center when it comes to protecting people and their loved ones from getting sick. After all, it’s the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs! While it’s a habit that people should practice without being told, children occasionally need an extra reminder to take that 30 seconds and get soapy. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention has gone the extra mile to create content that promotes proper handwashing and to teach children five simple steps for washing their hands the right way:
- Wet. Place your hands under the faucet to wet them with clean, running water.
- Lather. Squirt soap into the palm of your hands, then rub them together so the soap bubbles up. Remember to get the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails!
- Scrub. Keep rubbing your hands together for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse. Place your hands under the faucet to rinse off your hands.
- Dry. Get a clean towel to dry your hands with or fan them and let air dry.
Need promotional materials to remind your children, students, or patrons to wash their hands? Here are some posters provided by the CDC.
View more posters and additional resources by visiting https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
Or share this video provided by the CDC:
Entertain and Education Through Reading
All the best things have life have a book to correspond with them. Handwashing is no different. Check your local library for these 5 great hygiene-centric books for kids!
- Oh, The Things You Can Do That Are Good For You by Tish Rabe. The Cat in the Hat teams up with Partnership for a Healthier America to teach the importance of eating right, staying active, getting sleep, handwashing, teethbrushing, and more. Great for ages 5-8!
- The Bacteria Book by Steve Mould. Learn about bacteria, viruses, and other germs and microbes that keep us and our world running, how they can be harmful, and how to prevent them from hurting us. Great for ages 6-9!
- Those Mean Nasty Dirty Downright Disgusting… But Invisible Germs by Judith Anne Rice. Learn the importance of handwashing, how germs spread, and how to prevent them. Great for ages 5-7!
- What is Social Distancing?: A Children’s Guide & Activity Book by Lindsey Coker Luckey. This books helps explain the importance of handwashing and social distancing so kids understand why they can’t go to school or see their friends as often as they used to.
- Dragon’s Mask: A Cute Children’s Story to Teach Kids the Importance of Wearing Masks to Help Prevent the Spread of Germs and Viruses by Steve Herman. Diggory Doo the dragon learns why wearing a mask is important and how it can help prevent the spread of germs. Great for ages 4-8!
The “Scrub-A-Dub-Dub” Magic Show
While this 30-35 minutes magic show is intended for childcare/preschool audiences, it’s also great for your youngest elementary school students! Safe, silly, and age-appropriate, it’s a show all about hygiene designed to help your little ones understand what germs are, how they spread, and how to prevent spreading. From magic and puppetry to humor and interactive fun, it’s a show that will captivate your children start to finish!
Call (716) 940-8963 for more details TODAY.