Simple guidelines on hand-washing to help your child stay healthy

Dirt, germs and children go hand in hand. This is because children touch almost everything they set their eyes on. And after doing this, they will most likely put their hands in the mouth. It therefore makes it very difficult to separate the three or better still prevent children from coming into contact with dirt. However, encouraging them to wash their hands is then best way to stop the germs from spreading.

When germs are washed, says Dr. Patricia Sakwa, a Public Health Master’s student at a United States International University-Africa (USIU-A), they are less likely to make anyone sick. Hand-washing helps curb the spread of the flu and other disease causing germs, which are mostly spread through human contact. Dr. Sakwa explains that children as young as three years old should start learning how to wash their hands properly and why it is important for them to do so. It is also important that they know when they should wash their hands to enable them inculcate good hygienic practices at a tender age.

‘This can be done by the caregivers leading by example, by making sure that children see them wash their hands any time they come into contact with any dirt or as soon as they get back home after running any errands or just touching anything. That way, they will register it in their minds and hence make it part of their day-to-day routine,’ she states.

Other important reasons for encouraging children to wash their hands include:

• To keep dirt outside hence minimising the potential for smears across doorknobs and smudges on your walls.
• To help establish a routine of cleanliness and minimise the potential of them sticking paste, glue or anything else that is sticky on surfaces, books or anything they come into contact with.
• To make the hands stay soft and tender.

A good way to  is by encouraging him to always wash their hands after playing as well as after visiting the toilet. You should also teach or explain to them the importance of washing hands before eating. If they understand this, it will be easy for them to stay clear of any germs. Washing hands when having a cough, cold, after sneezing or blowing their noses should also be encouraged at all time. Using warm water and ordinary soaps is highly recommended for your baby’s soft hands. The Red Cross Society advises that children be taught to first wet their hands with some water prior to applying soap to make the soap spread more easily. Liquid soap and flavoured soaps can be more fun for your children. Teach them the habit of scrubbing their hands with the soap for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry with a clean towel.

How then do you get your child to wash his hands?
The best way to get children to wash their hands at all times is by making the practice as fun as can be. It could be either by singing or formulating a game out of it.

According to Earthkids.com, you can make washing hands fun for children by:

• Setting up a hand-washing area for children or having a specific sink that is of comfortable height for them. One could do this by providing a stool that they could step on while using the sink.
• Invest in fun soap and scrubber. The soaps could have flavours such as rose flowers or gum. The scrubbers could come in the form of figures that the children can identify with.
• Be creative; make the hand washing experience a game of sorts. You can have them sing while washing their hands to help them mark the length of time they need for the task.
• Come up with a homemade hand-washing poster that illustrates the proper steps for hand-washing. Innovate a game out of each step or even create a quiz out of each step, just to make it as interactive as possible. This way, children will enjoy it rather than viewing it as a task.
• Model. Children learn well from seeing what you do than what you will say to them. So, consistently wash your own hands and at all appropriate places as they watch.
• You could also have another child wash their hands as you and your child observe while at the same time giving instructions of what to do. Thereafter, ask your child do it while you again explain the basic steps.

With all said and done, do not forget to keep it simple and fun. Use story books, pictures, posters or any form of illustration to reinforce the practice. If this proves to be hard, act little skits about getting germs on your hands, hand-washing, getting sick and so on.

END: BL 42/24