Why should I teach my child to wash his hands?
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Stacy Wiegman answered:You should teach your child to wash his hands because it's one of the best ways to keep him from getting sick and spreading germs. You can start teaching your child how to wash his hands properly when he's a toddler. Show him how to get his hands wet, put soap on them and then rub them together to create bubbles. To make sure he scrubs long enough to really get his hands clean (at least 20 seconds), teach him to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. Then show him how to rinse all the bubbles away and dry his hands on a clean towel or with an air dryer if you're in a public restroom that's equipped with these instead of paper towels.
Your child should learn the most important times to wash his hands as well. These include:
- before helping in the kitchen or eating
- before or after being around someone who's sick (such as a playmate or sibling)
- after using the bathroom
- after sneezing, coughing or blowing his nose
- after touching animals, animal waste or pet food
- after touching garbage
You should teach your child to wash his hands because it's one of the best ways to keep him from getting sick and spreading germs. You can start teaching your child how to wash his hands properly when he's a toddler. Show him how to get his hands... More -
Dr. D. Mark Valentine of Intermountain Healthcare answered:Children need to explore their world, but we want them to be safe. It is great for kids to play outside and to play with other kids. The result will be getting dirty. This actually helps the immune system to develop; yet there are certain types of germs to avoid. For instance, playing with another child that has a contagious illness usually results in that child getting the illness as well. That is why we recommend frequent washing of hands. It is also a good idea to teach children to not put their unwashed fingers in their nose or eyes as this spreads illnesses more readily.
There appears to be some benefit to growing up with a little dirt. Children that grow up on the farm, or even children that grow up with pets tend to have fewer allergies and asthma.
Children need to explore their world, but we want them to be safe. It is great for kids to play outside and to play with other kids. The result will be getting dirty. This actually helps the immune system to develop; yet there are certain types... More -
RealAge answered:The most effective way to prevent contact spread is -- you guessed it -- frequent hand washing. Kids learn by example, so make sure you wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. You need to lather up with soap and warm water for at least fifteen seconds to remove 90 percent of germs, so teach your child to wash her hands for as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” or the “ABC” song. (Of course, you may first need to teach her these songs.) This lesson can benefit your kids for a lifetime.
From The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, and Accidents by Jennifer Trachtenberg.
Find out more about this book: The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, an...
The most effective way to prevent contact spread is -- you guessed it -- frequent hand washing. Kids learn by example, so make sure you wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. You need to lather up with soap and warm water for at least fifteen... More -
Children should be taught to wash their hands at an early age as part of good general hygiene. They are at less risk of catching colds and other infections if they wash before eating, and are less likely to pass any illness along to others that way. Hand washing should be taught along with bathing and brushing the teeth.Children should be taught to wash their hands at an early age as part of good general hygiene. They are at less risk of catching colds and other infections if they wash before eating, and are less likely to pass any illness along to others... More
