Prep (5 year olds) quick games leading in to washing hands?

Question

I am having problems coming up with new transitions to move my prep children from circle time to wash their hands. I can move no more than 4 children at a time, or else the basins become to congested (their are only 3). Any transitions you have would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Answer 1

What about 'Wash the dishes dry the dishes turn the dishes over' game - where they join hands and swing them around - do you know that game? You could change the words to wash your hands dry your hands go and get your lunchbox, have them do the movements and when they have finished, they move to the sink....

Answer 2

I had this problem when I used to teach preschool as well...What I came up with was a specific seating arrangement to put them in after circle time (3 Rows of 3 each)- because I had 9 kids, but only 3 sinks at a time...

So, I came up with a song that we would sing each time it was time for another row to go wash up...I called it the "Roley Poley Song".  It has hand motions (which are hard to explain written) or you could come up with your own...Here are the lyrics

"Roley-Poley, Roley-Poley- Rolling in the muds...

Roley-Poley, Roley-Poley- Your hands need some suds!

Roley-Poley, Roley-Poley- Time to wash your hands...

Roley-Poley, Roley-Poley- Row "2"- Time to stand!!!"

(Row 2 would then stand and go wash their hands while the other 2 rows listened to a story- The story is interupted when the song needs to be sung again)

*The motions that I used were: ["Roley-Poley, Roley-Poley (Each hand in a curl like you are squeezing something, then moving them side to side, like a Roley-Poley rolls) ]

                                                     ["...rolling in the muds" (Each child rubs head or arms like they are getting dirty) ]

                                                     ["...Time to wash your hands" (Each child pretends to be washing their hands) ]

                                                      ["...Row '2' time to stand" (Each child show 1, 2, or 3 fingers to indicate the row and the claps on time (x) to (x) stand (x) ]

Hope this helps!  It really made hand-washing time easier for my class!! I have also had parents tell me their kids sing it when washing their hands at home, LOL...

Answer 3

I don't completely understand the question, but if you're trying to inspire them to wash their hands, get them dirty. A lot of kids won't like it when their hands are dirty. If you can, get something like washable paint on it that way they know when they got it all off.

Good Luck! God Bless!

Answer 4

You can play Who stole the cookie  from the cookie jar and when their name is called they wash their hands.

or

Do a book on tape and call 3 people at a time to wash their hands.

or

Pass a ball around and sing the following song

The magic ball goes round & round,

to pass it quickly you are bound,

If you have it when it stops you are it.

at it have the child wash their hands

or

play I spy and after the child has  had a turn they wash their hands.

or

Have a bunch of animal pictures in a bag . Have the child pick a picture and walk like that animalto the sink.