Hand washing is the single best way to prevent illness. However, little hands get dirty often and kids are not always the best at remembering to wash their hands. Encouraging healthy habits at a young age helps keep your little one safe from harmful germs!
When to wash:
- Before eating
- After using the bathroom, coughing, or sneezing
- After playing outside, petting animals, or when hands are visibly dirty
How to wash:
- Wet hands with warm water and apply a small amount of soap
- Wash vigorously for 10-15 seconds (taking care to wash all areas), rinse, and dry completely
- Try singing a song that lasts ~15 seconds to get kids used to how long they should be washing
- When there is no sink available, antibacterial gel is an appropriate alternative (when supervised!)
- As always, if you have questions about hand washing for kids, consult your pediatrician.
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