Early Childhood Care and Education Hand Washing Routine
Early childhood care and education are some of the most important elements of a child’s development Hand washing is an important part of proper early childhood care and education, as it helps ensure that a child’s hands remain clean and germ-free. By regularly washing their hands, children can reduce their risk of spreading germs to each other and the environment in which they are living.
The primary benefit of having a hand washing routine in early childhood care and education is to reduce the risk of spread of infectious diseases. This is especially important in early childhood settings where children may not be vaccinated against certain illnesses, or may not yet be able to understand the importance of keeping their hands clean. Proper hand washing routines can help reduce the spread of these illnesses and can help keep children safe and healthy.
To properly establish a hand washing routine in an early childhood care and education setting, it is important to ensure that children understand why it is important to wash their hands, as well as what the proper procedures for washing are. It is essential that the expectations for hygiene are clearly communicated to the children and reinforced on a regular basis.
The following are five of the best examples of activities for hand washing that can be incorporated into a hand washing routine in an early childhood care and education setting:
1. Singing “Happy Birthday”: Singing "Happy Birthday" is a great way to help young children remember to wash their hands for the appropriate amount of time. This activity can help instill the importance of thorough hand washing in early childhood.
2. Handwashing Song and Dance: Developing a fun, educational song and dance to go along with handwashing can be an effective way to teach children the importance of proper handwashing.
3. Gross Out Game: Playing a game of “Gross Out” in which children can identify which items are dirtier than others is a great way to teach children the importance of handwashing and to reinforce proper handwashing techniques.
4. Handwashing Art: Have the children create a poster or a drawing to remind them of the importance of handwashing. This can be hung in the classroom or other areas of the child care setting to remind the children to wash their hands.
5. Visual Aid: Create a visual aid to help children remember which areas of the hands to wash. This can be in the form of a poster or an interactive game.
These activities can be used to help create an engaging and effective hand washing routine for early childhood care and education. By incorporating these activities into their hand washing routine, the children in the setting can become more aware of the importance of proper hand washing, and the spread of disease in the setting can be reduced.