When it comes to fighting illness, soap and water can save the day.
Good news for hand washers: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper handwashing by adults in daycare centers and by schoolchildren significantly reduces the number of sick days.
For the best defense against illness, teach your children the proper steps for handwashing:
- Wet your hands.
- Apply soap. (Sixty percent alcohol-based gels are fine when soap and water isn’t available.)
- Lather and wash for at least 15-20 seconds.
- Rinse and thoroughly dry.
“Most of us don’t wash our hands long enough,” says Sharon Rau, RN, community education instructor at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “By singing a song like The ABC Song or Happy Birthday, we know that when we’re finished singing, we’re also done washing our hands.”
The singing method has two purposes: it helps children know they’ve scrubbed their hands long enough, and it’s a fun way to motivate kids to participate in handwashing.
As you’re teaching your children the importance of washing their hands, be sure to set a good example. “Role modeling is important,” says Rau. “How can you tell your children how important it is if you’re not doing it yourself?”