Children rarely think about the personal hygiene of their hands, that’s why adults need to constantly direct them on a daily basis. Children mainly focus on eating and playing, but they must be consistently instructed on healthy living skills as well. As a parent, it’s up to you to reinforce your child’s hand washing hygiene, like before every meal and after using the bathroom.
Children that do not wash their hands on a regular basis not only introduce germs to themselves, but can spread germs to others. Because children share most everything, including germs, they need to be encouraged to wash their hands and be shown how to do this important personal hygiene activity properly.
Children suffering from colds and flu bugs need to wash their hands even more frequently. They do not realize that when they cough, sneeze and wipe their runny nose with the back of their hands that it could cause a minor epidemic, particularly in a day-care or preschool settings. And your child contracting numerous infectious diseases can be avoided if you only teach your child when and how to wash their hands.
Children share toys all the time, and the first thing many young children do is put them in their mouth. This activity can transfer germs from child to child. To reduce this risk, hand and toy washing are important personal hygiene prevention measures.
Regularly reminding your child to wash potentially germ filled hands instills the importance of clean hands. A soap dispenser should be used rather than bar soaps because it is less likely to spread germs and it allows children to release the amount of soap they need easily. Another important factor when teaching your child to wash their hands is drying them, either through the use of a towel, paper towel or hand dryer.
Many daycare centers implement healthy hand practices by incorporating them into their lesson plans. Children learn how to wash their hands after each meal and after each bathroom use. The elimination of germs is incredibly effective when proper hand washing techniques are mandated. And as a parent, carrying this mandate over into your child’s home is important. When adults support children’s practice of healthy hand washing techniques, this personal hygiene creates a safety net both at home and at school.
It is amazing how a simple personal hygiene technique like washing your hands can stop the spread of germs, thus preventing so many bacterial and virus caused infections.
