What are some fun ways to teach a group of 3-5 year olds the importance of hand washing?

Question

I am looking for games, roles plays or just any ideas about a fun way to keep them interested for at least 8 minutes while teaching them about handwashing..

Answer 1

I did an activity about germs and hand washing with my preschool students when we were discussing about health and safety.  The activity involved using sticky rice, a large bowl of water and soap.  First I had the children put their hands in the rice.  I told them to pretend the rice was germs.  I asked the kids if they could wipe the germs (the rice) off with a towel.  Of course they couldn't.  Next, I had the children try to rinse the germs off with only water.  Some of the rice will come off, but some of the rice will stay on.  Next, I had the children use soap and water to get rid of the germs.  All the rice came off.  This activity is a good way for children to visualize how soap gets rid of germs.  Good luck and have fun!

Answer 2

this site might help: http://www.colgate.com/app/LatherUpForGo...

Answer 3

This is going to sound strange, but it will do the job.  After coming in from outside...or at the end of the day, give each child a piece of white bread.  Have them talk about the color of it and what it looks like.  Then have them look at their hands and ask them if they look dirty...unless there is visible dirt, they will say their hands are clean. Then give them a few minutes to play with their piece of bread like a piece of playdoh (but keeping it only in their hands).  This should turn the bread dirty, and give them an idea of the dirt that is there, but they cannot always see it.  

You could also expand that they can play with it on the table, to discuss surfaces and stuff.

I am an elementary school teacher.

Answer 4

i help teach in a pre-school and i know our kids love the "magic soap line" before snack. They all line up and we give them bubblegum smelling purel that they think is magical soap. We love the kids faces when they get it and they are starting to understand what it does.. i hope this sort of helped

Answer 5

This is simple, and I'm a child-care expert!   Okay, games! thats your answer for everthing! Make up a game like, everytime you go to the potty, the evil germ monsters will eat your hands unless you wash them and say your FULL ABC's !!! it works! if the eating their hands thing scares them make up an adventure game or something like that! easy!

Answer 6

tell them to think of all the disgusting things they touched that day (even doorknobs) and then show them pictures of what germs look like. after, ask them how many of them would want those "aliens" in their eye, mouth, nose, etc. it seriously worked for me when i was little.

Answer 7

We name our germs. So...when we finish going to the potty, we have to stop the potty germs from getting into our room. All day long, we wash paint germs, potty germs, playground germs, lunch germs, sneeze germs, etc. from our hands. In order to get them to wash for the appropriate amount of time, we sing this song:

(to the tune of Row, Row, Row your Boat)

Wash, wash, wash your hands

Play this handy game!

Rub and scrub and scrub and rub

and germs go down the drain!

Dry, dry dry your hands

Dry them both today

Dry them with this towel

Wipe the water away...Hey!

(I know it's cheesy, but it works. LOL)

Answer 8

show them different types hand wash soaps 'coz childen  v.intested about them n just tell them politely about the disadvantages of not washing hands.

Answer 9

The red cross has a program called Scrubby Bear

Very cute program, and my 6 year old son has reminded me of Scrubby bear since he was 4.  

I'm sure you can contact your local Red Cross and they can give you more info and materials.

Answer 10

When I taught Kindergarten, the nurse put glitter on their hands and called them germs. They had to wash thoroughly to make all the germs disappear.