Teaching Children About Germs
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Teach a Child to See the Germs, Wash their Hands and Cover a Cough
For children germs are invisible things that cause them to get sick. Remembering to do things like washing their hands or covering a cough may not come easily.
Helping children understand about germs is to find ways to help them 'see' the germs is a big way to help them understand about germs.
Hand washing and covering coughs are two good ways to avoid getting sick and prevent the spread of germs.
Image Source: Modified Microsoft Image.
Teaching Hand Washing to Children
Good hand-washing techniques are something that can be easily taught to children by parents and reinforced by teachers.This Teaching Children about Germs Lens includes many helpful tips, educational materials and resources for parents and teachers to teach children about germs including basic hand washing skills and how to cover cough.
I want to make sure that my girls stay healthy during flu season. For the last two years, I've gone into my daughters' classroom with one of the Glo Germ Kits to teach hand washing and coughing to the children around flu time.
This lens looks at several lesson plans, techniques and products that are helpful for teaching children about germs and ways to make those invisible germs visible.
Preventing those mean, nasty, dirty, downright disgusting
but still invisible germs.
Question about Hand Washing
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Important!
Hand washing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick.
The Mayo Clinic
The Mayo Clinic
Those Mean Nasty Dirty Downright Disgusting but...Invisible Germs on Amazon
Those Mean Nasty Dirty Downright Disgusting but...Invisible Germs / Esos desagradables detestables sucios completamente asquerosos pero... invisibles ... y español) (English and Spanish Edition)
Amazon Price: $8.59 (as of 02/17/2012)
This is one of my daughters favorite books on germs.
It is one that my Mom used when teaching preschool and still uses when she volunteers in the classroom.
A fun way to get children thinking about germs.
Preventing Mr. Germ
When to Wash Hands...Before
The Mayo Clinic recommends the following situations when you should wash your hands:
- Before eating
- Before and after treating wounds or cuts
- Before and after touching a sick or injured person
- Before and after preparing food, especially before and immediately after handling raw meat, poultry or fish
- Before and after using public restrooms (gas stations, restaurants, airports, train stations and bus stations)
Wash Your Hands Before You Start.
Wash You Hand After You're Done
When to Wash Hands...After
The Mayo Clinic recommends the following situations when you should wash your hands:
- After using the bathroom
- After blowing your nose
- After coughing or sneezing into your hands
- After touching animals or animal waste
- After handling garbage
- After changing a diaper - wash the diaper-wearer's hands, too
- After using public restrooms (gas stations, restaurants, airports, train stations and bus stations)
Children's Books on Germs
Answer to Hand Washing Question
The correct answer to the Hand Washing Question is "All of the above."
Hand Washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection.
Hand Washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection.
Important!
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimate that every year, more than 164 million school days are lost due to illness.
Many of those illnesses could have been avoided if children had washed their hands correctly.
Many of those illnesses could have been avoided if children had washed their hands correctly.
Note to Wash Hands
Keeping my hands clean is one of the most important steps I can take to stay healthy, avoid getting sick and not spread germs.
Remember to wash my hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds.
If soap and clean water are not available, I can use an alcohol-based product to clean my hands
Parents and Teachers Teaching Hand Washing
Teaching good hand-washing techniques or hand hygiene can be a bit challenging since you are battling those mean, nasty, dirty, downright disgusting but very invisible germs.There are a variety of great resources to help make those germ more "visible" to children even though they cannot be seen, tasted, smelled, felt, or touched.
Hand washing is something that should be taught to children by Parents and by Teachers. Hand washing includes washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
When done properly, the simple habit of hand washing becomes of the best ways to avoid getting sick.
Image Source: Webchicken. Washes his Hands. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.
Hand Washing for Kids
Learn the song "Pump The Pump" to help remind kids to wash their hands. From Softsoapbrand. There is a rocker version and a 60's group band (more like the early Beatles) that sing the song.
powered by Youtube
Important!
Hand Washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Fun Hand Soaps and Pumps for Kids
A Child Washing His Hands
How to Wash Your Hands
The Center for Disease Control recommends using the following technique when washing hands with soap and water:
- Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
- Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
- Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend!
- Rinse hands well under running water.
- Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
Professional Resources on Hand Washing
- Hand washing: An easy way to prevent infection - MayoClinic.com
- Hand washing - tips on a simple way to avoid getting sick from the Mayo Clinic.
- CDC Clean Hands Campaign Site
- Resources and Information from the Center for Disease Control's Clean Hands Campaign site.
- Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Setting | CDC Infection Control in Healthcare
- Resources and Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings from the Center for Disease Control.
- CDC - Be a Germ Stopper: Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School
- Information from the CDC on how to be a germ stopper.
- Hand Washing
- Why is hand washing important? Hand washing, when done correctly, is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases from the Minstery of Health and Long Term Care in Ontario, Canada.
- Consumer Advice: Handwashing
- Consumer Advice on Handwashing from FoodSafety.gov
Children's Books on Washing Hands
Hand Washing Posters & Drawing Resources for Teachers and Parents
Use one of posters as image to add.
- Poster - How to Wash Your Hands
- A Printable Poster from the USDA.
- Poster - When Should I Wash My Hands?
- A Printable Children Poster from the Minnesota Department of Health.
- Classroom Poster on Hand Washing
- A Printable Poster from SquidSoap by Airborne.
- Wash Your Hands Posters
- Printable Adult Oriented Posters from the Minnesota Deptartment of Health.
- The 6 Steps of Hand Washing
- A Printable Poster from the Scrub Club.
- Download or order Stop Germs, Stay Healthy! posters
- Printable Stop Germs, Stay Healthy! posters from the Public Health Department for Seattle & King County. The Hand Washing Posters are available in several different languages.
- Food Safety at Home, School and When Eating Out
- An interactive coloring page from the USDA/Food Safety and Inspection Service, The Chef and the Child Foundation and FDA/Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition.
- Wash Your Hands Well with Soap and Warm Water
- An interactive coloring page from the USDA/Food Safety and Inspection Service, The Chef and the Child Foundation and FDA/Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition.
Online Resources for Children on Hand Washing
- Scrub Club
- Scrub Club was developed by NSF International to raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing and ultimately improve the health of children and reduce school sick days.
Image is of BAC, one of the many lovable villains of the Scrub Club. - Henry The Hand
- Teaching hand washing to prevent any pandemic or infection. The The 4 Principles of Hand Awareness were endorsed by the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
More Resources for Teaching a Child How to Wash Hands
- Why Is Hand Washing So Important?
- Did you know that proper hand washing is the best way to keep from getting sick? Here's how to teach this all-important habit to your kids.
- Wash Hands: Fight Disease-Causing Germs
- An article by Renee R. Boyer from Virginia Tech on Why Wash Hands?
- Handwashing Curriculas and Student Project Ideas: Handwashing Tool Kit
- Materials, curricula, and ideas for teaching hand washing to people of all ages from the Minnesota Department of Health.
- Lesson Plans Pre K through Grade 2
- Lesson Plans to Supplement Your Health Education Programs - instruction and games on The World of Germs.
- Lesson Plans Grade 3 through Grade 6
- Lesson Plans to Supplement Your Health Education Programs- instruction and games on The World of Germs.
- Hand Washing Project Ideas for Students - Minnesota Dept. of Health
- A list of fun and educational project ideas for students of all ages to teach about the spread of germs and handwashing from the Minnesota Department of Health.
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Did You Wash 'Em?
- A statewide Handwashing Education Campaign from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment that uses direct education at local levels and statewide media messages in an effort to reach all Kansans, with special emphasis on children and food service workers. Image is from the "Did You Wash?" campaign.
- Educational Materials
- PURELL helps students stay in class! School study proves it: 20% -50% fewer days lost to illness in classrooms with a PURELL dispenser versus classrooms without.
- Curriculum Ideas for Exploring Handwashing
- Curriculum Ideas for Exploring Handwashing from Cathy Abraham, MEd.
- The ABC's of Hand Washing
- A Pdf file about the ABC's of Hand Washing from the USDA Food and Nutrition Services.
- Fightbac.org: Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE)
- Fightbac.org, the website of the Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE), features the Fight BAC! food safety initiative educating consumers about safe food handling.
- Educational Resources and How To Guides on Hand Washing for Kids, Parents and Teacher Resources - Class Lesson Plans | Lather Up For Good Health
- Educational resource for parents and teachers with how to guides and lesson plans to help teach proper hand washing techniques to kids.
See the Hand Germs
Glo Germ Helps Children Learn About Germs
Children in England learn about germs by checking their hands under a special light to see how the Glo-Germ Powder, representing germs, had spread from one student to another.
Glo Germ Kits Make the Invisible Visible
Glo Germ is an effective tool to demonstrate handwashing, surface cleaning, hygiene, and containment techniques.Since 1968, Glo Germ has provided our customers with a fun and safe product that casts a revealing glow when exposed to Glo Germ's U.V. light, turning the invisible into "germs you can see!"
The Glo Germ Kit contains a bottle of liquid or gel, a bottle of powder, and an ultra-violet lamp. The liquid or gel and the powder contain the plastic simulated germs, and the lamp illuminates them to test the effectiveness of the children's.
Glo Germ Before and After
Image Source: James Emery. Washing Hands Before. Clean Hands After. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.
Glo Germ Kit in the Amazon Spotlight
Glo Germ Kit 1003 - with 12 LED UV Light
Amazon Price: $64.95 (as of 02/17/2012)
This kit contains a battery operated ultra-violet light, an 8 ounce bottle of Glo Germ Gel, and a bottle of Glo Germ powder.
Great Glo Kits on Amazon
More Ideas to Help Children 'See' the Germs
- Germs Science Projects: How Germs Spread & Growing Germs
- Try this experiment to see why you should wash your hands, even if they look clean!
- Glitter Germs:: Lesson Plan, Activity, or Teaching Idea from A to Z Teacher Stuff
- Learning about germs and the importance of washing hands.
- Watch Germs Spread | Scholastic.com
- Try this hands-on science experiment to demonstrate how germs spread from one person to another.
- School-Wide Hand washing Campaigns Cut Germs, Absenteeism
- Studies reveal that school-wide hand washing programs can make a difference in the health of students and staff and, as a result, improve school attendance from Education World.
- Glo Germ: Handwashing, aseptic & isolation techniques, infection control
- Education in proper handwashing technique, isolation techniques, aseptic techniqes, infection control.
- Fun with Glowing Germs and Microbes at Steve Spangler Science
- Whether we like to believe it or not we live in a world filled with germs, bacteria, viruses and other creepy crawly things. It is hard to teach kids about germs when you can't see them.
- Build Your Own Hand Washing Tool Kit - Minnesota Dept. of Health
- The supplies and materials you need to build a toolkit for teaching the SOS food safety curriculum, or MDH hand washing curriculum.
Use Squid Soap
Teaching Children with SquidSoap
One fun way of teaching the skills is with SquidSoap. This liquid soap product provides a fun way for children (and lensmasters) to learn the proper way to wash their hands.
SquidSoap helps change behavior, so that over time good hand hygiene becomes a natural, unconscious action.
Bonus for Lensmasters
SquidSoap comes with a fun removable Squid toy (a must for any Squidoo Lensmaster).
SquidSoap helps change behavior, so that over time good hand hygiene becomes a natural, unconscious action.
Bonus for Lensmasters
SquidSoap comes with a fun removable Squid toy (a must for any Squidoo Lensmaster).
How to Use SquidSoap
Squidsoap in the Amazon Spotlight
Squidsoap Hand Soap with Ink Marker 1 Pc with free squishy squid
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 02/17/2012)
The unique inking soap dispenser helps teach children and others the proper hand washing technique. This new liquid hand soap dispenser, SquidSoap is a fun way for children (and grownups) to learn how to wash their hands.
SquidSoap helps change behavior, so that over time good hand hygiene becomes a natural, unconscious action. SquidSoap comes with a fun removable Squid toy (a must bonus for any Squidoo Lensmaster).
Resources for Using SquidSoap for Parents and Teachers
The SquidSoap manufacturers (Airborne) have a variety of educational materials that can be downloaded and used when teaching children how to wash hands.
- Parents and Teachers
- The main page for Parents and Teacher's resources.
- Classroom Poster
- You can download and print a Reminder poster that Cleaner Hands make for Healthier Kids for the home or the classroom.
- SquidSoap Superstar Diploma
- You can download and print a SquidSoap Superstar Diploma for your children once they learn how to wash their hands.
- Back to School
- Tips for keeping children healthy once they go back to school.
- Children and Pets
- A reminder that Good Hygiene Practices Are Important if You Own Pets.
Understanding the Ink Applicator
Squidsoap, a unique inking soap dispenser, helps teach and train proper hand washing technique to children. For children (and those still young at heart) SquidSoap turns hand washing into a game.
When you press down on the top of the SquidSoap pump, the special ink marker puts a small ink mark on the hand with vegetable dye. After the mark dries, liquid soap can be dispensed from the soap dispenser pump.
Removing the ink spot takes a good 15-20 seconds of thorough hand washing, leaving the child (or adult) with very clean hands.
Most professionals recommend washing your hands for a good 15-20 seconds.
I've Been Inked!!!
Ink Spot
Finding Nemo in the Amazon Spotlight
Finding Nemo (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Amazon Price: $14.85 (as of 02/17/2012)
The scene when the little squid/octopus 'inks' in fear was one of the funny moments in Finding Nemo.
I couldn't help by think that kids would say "I've Been Inked!!!" when using SquidSoap.
Having Fun with a SquidSoap Toy
The SquidSoap Squid Toy is a Must for any Squid Lensmaster
While SquidSoap is a fun way for grownups to learn how to properly wash their hands, for Squid Lensmasters, the appeal may come more from the detachable Squid Toy (which even comes in orange!).
The Squid toy can from the soap to leave behind a stylish soap dispenser for your bathroom or kitchen.
This is when the fun starts. The toy then becomes a source of amusement and numerous hours of fun for the lensmaster.
The Squid toy can from the soap to leave behind a stylish soap dispenser for your bathroom or kitchen.
This is when the fun starts. The toy then becomes a source of amusement and numerous hours of fun for the lensmaster.
Cleaner hands makes for healthier kids!
Those Mean Nasty Dirty Downright Disgusting but...Invisible Germs on Amazon
Those Mean Nasty Dirty Downright Disgusting but...Invisible Germs / Esos desagradables detestables sucios completamente asquerosos pero... invisibles ... y español) (English and Spanish Edition)
Amazon Price: $8.59 (as of 02/17/2012)
This is a great resource to use to teach children how to wash their hands. The book help explain the world of germs with playful and colorful illustrations
A popular children's book shows the germs that cause illness and how important hand washing is to good health and helps children to establish good health habits.
The Latest in the News about Hand Washing
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byMore Lenses on Hand Washing
Using Hand Sanitizers
Hand Sanitizers and Kids
If soap and water are not available antimicrobial wipes or towelettes are just as effective as soap and water in cleaning your hands but aren't as good as alcohol-based sanitizers.
Alcohol-based sanitizers may be harder on young children's hands.
Alcohol-based sanitizers may be harder on young children's hands.
Bath & Body Pocketbacs
One of my favorite hand sanitizers. I have one of these with me nearly all of the time. They've got scents that appeal to kids and a holder for easy attaching.
Children's Hand Sanitizer Options
More on Hand Sanitizers
Teach a Child How to Cover a Cough
How to Teach a Child to Cough
Teaching a child to cough is much like teaching an adult to cough--parents, teachers and other providers need to emphasize covering the cough and washing hands.1. When Coughing or Sneezing:
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue.
- Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
- If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve.
- Do not cough or sneeze into your hands.
- Wash with soap and water for 20 seconds
- Clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cover Your Cough.
Image Source: CDC. Social Media Tools for Consumers and Partners. Government Website.
A Featured Lens on Covering Your Cough
More Kids Hand Soap Available on eBay
You're Fighting the Invisible Germs
Image Credits
Preventing Mr. Germ - The 'Mister Germ' Program. 2005. Hunter New England Area Health Service, Australia.
Having Fun with a SquidSoap Toy. Sharyn Morrow. Squid-ly hand. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.
Washing Hands - Katherine. Washing Hands. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.
Having Fun with a SquidSoap Toy. Sharyn Morrow. Squid-ly hand. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.
Washing Hands - Katherine. Washing Hands. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.
Reader Feedback on the How to Teach Children to Wash their Hands
Your place for feedback, thoughts, comments and suggestions
Do you have any suggestions for what you've done to teach a child how to wash their hands and keep their hands clean?
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LewesDE
Feb 17, 2012 @ 1:26 pm | delete
- Great lens. I hope you make more of them!
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naheedahsan
Feb 14, 2012 @ 12:53 am | delete
- Great lens, Thanks for the information
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CherryTriggerCola
Jan 27, 2012 @ 10:21 pm | delete
- This is very informative and it's a good way for parents to remember to by teaching their kids. Great lens! Thanks for sharing.
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favored1
Jan 18, 2012 @ 2:30 pm | delete
- Teaching kids requires a lot of trips to the bathroom, in which I insist on hand washing. I have seen the Squidsoap inkspot, but cannot seem to find where I can buy it.
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squidshe
Nov 12, 2011 @ 7:23 am | delete
- Wash them for more than a few seconds, I believe it's a full 15 seconds.
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AnnaleeBlysse
Nov 10, 2011 @ 3:45 am | delete
- What's hard is teaching adults!
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BestToysReviews
Nov 4, 2011 @ 10:24 am | delete
- My children love to wash their hands because that means they can play with water :D
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maurissam
Oct 19, 2011 @ 7:47 pm | delete
- Great lens, Thanks for the extra information... I didn't know there was a squidsoap...kool
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chelseamarsden
Oct 11, 2011 @ 9:01 am | delete
- It's good to teach our children about hygiene when they are young. When they start out right, it will benefit them for life.
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tcorbs
Sep 29, 2011 @ 5:35 pm | delete
- My daughter is in Girl Guides and they actually talked and did a demonstration about hand washing where they used a special light to show the girls the germs on your hands even after you've washed them, if you haven't spent enough time doing so. I invite you to visit my lens about water filtration, a great way to go green!
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Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, an expert in life challenges, loss, grief and bereavement, professional health educator, professor,... more »
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Wash Your Hands Book
Wash Your Hands: Dirty Truth About Germs, Viruses and Epidemics...and the Simple Ways to Protect Yourself in a Dangerous World
Amazon Price: $0.01 (as of 02/17/2012)
Read why you and your children should be washing your hands.
Mickey Mouse Soap
MICKEY MOUSE FOAM HW
Amazon Price: (as of 02/17/2012)
A fun soap from Method to get your kids to wash hands.
Minnie Mouse Method Soap
Method Minnie Mouse Foaming Hand Wash, Strawberry, 8.5 Ounce (Pack of 2)
Amazon Price: $8.98 (as of 02/17/2012)
Use this strawberry scented soap is a fun way to get kids to wash hands.
