How to Teach Handwashing to Toddlers
Teach toddlers to wash hands by catering to their love of water play. Use song and rhyme to help them learn the steps of the hand washing routine quickly. This hand washing song will make hand washing a desirable experience for both parents and toddlers.
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Instructions
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Washing Hands
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Show the children how to turn the water on, and allow them to practice turning it on and off a few times.
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2
Show children how to pump one time to get antibacterial soap. Pump dispensers work well for toddlers as they can learn to get one pump and be done. Bar soap is slippery when wet and difficult for toddlers to hold onto.
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3
Model washing by singing this song and doing the actions with your hands.
"Tops and bottoms, tops and bottoms, in between, in between, all around our hands, all around our hands, makes them clean, makes them clean."
This is sung to the tune of "Are You Sleeping."
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Rinse hands well. Tell your toddler to make sure all the bubbles are gone before turning the water off.
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Turn the water off and dry hands well on a towel or with a paper towel. Drying hands is a difficult task for toddlers as it takes using both hands in a coordinated manner. Regular hand towels are easier to use as they soak up water and offer a larger surface area for toddlers to work with.
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Tips & Warnings
Consistency and repetition are essential to teaching new skills to toddler-age children. Use the hand washing song every time you wash hands until you are confident your toddler can do the job independently.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Bottles/containers of hand wash/handwash. Liquid soap. Hygiene image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
