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The ABC’s Of Hand Washing

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In the 20 seconds that it takes you to sing the alphabet song, you can significantly decrease your chance of developing colds, flu and stomach bugs. This is especially important to remember now that school bells are ringing and young people are returning to classrooms where they will spend their days in close proximity to other students.

When kids come into contact with germs, they can unknowingly become infected simply by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. Young children, especially those in child care centers, are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases because of exposure to germs in group care, immature immune systems, behaviors that spread germs (thumb sucking, putting objects in their mouths), and lack of control of bodily fluids.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that every year, more than 164 million school days are lost due to illness and many of those illnesses could have been avoided if children and staff members had washed their hands correctly. Studies show that school-wide hand washing programs can make a significant difference in the health of students and staff. Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses, from the common cold to more serious illnesses such as meningitis, bronchitis, influenza, hepatitis A, and most types of infectious diarrhea. If your child’s school does not have a formal hand washing awareness program, talk to the school nurse and offer to help develop one. There are many free resources on the CDC website that can help.

It is essential that you model good hand washing techniques to your kids. Wash your hands together often so they learn how important this good habit is. A good way to help kids understand how long they should spend washing their hands is to encourage them to sing the alphabet song or “Happy Birthday” while they wash.

Teach children to wash their hands in warm water. (Make sure the water isn’t too hot for little hands). Use soap and lather up for about 10 to 15 seconds. Make sure you teach children to get in between the fingers and under the nails where uninvited germs like to gather. Rinse and dry well with a clean towel. Make it a fun thing to do. Buy a few scented soaps and some foamy kids soap.

Don’t just tell them to wash their hands, tell them why. Kids don’t like to be sick any more than we do. Explain to them there are bugs they can’t see that can make them ill and help them to understand how to remove those invisible bugs. Basic hand washing lessons can build the foundation for a happy, healthy school year for you and your family.