Come on Kids! Hygiene is FUN!

As we find ourselves stuck in a pandemic, the world has become very focused on keeping their germs to themselves. Hopefully when this is a thing of the past, the world will be a better place with many more clean hands! Even for a lot of adults, there is much more practice to be done, but how on earth do you get children to stop spreading germs?!

Let's be honest, most children, especially the really young ones, will not be social distancing, washing their hands faithfully, or avoiding touching their faces (let alone keep yucky items out of their mouth)!

I have compiled some fun ways to get kids to comply with some basic activities that that are essential in our "new normal". They will never do this 100% of the time, but we do have the ability to maximize their compliance to the best of our ability. Some kids may even find it fun!

Fun Hygiene for Kids: COVID-19

Handwashing should be done for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water. This should be done prior to eating, after using the bathroom, whenever hands are visibly dirty, and before any activity in which a child may get germs in their mouth. Here are some ideas to make it fun:

1. Sing songs while washing hands.

· ​ABC's is a popular one, but any song will do if it is at least 20 seconds.

· Putting pictures around a bathroom mirror can prompt singing of songs (like letters for ABC song and starts for Twinkle Twinkle)

· Some kids like to make up songs, picking a topic to make up a song about before washing hands can be fun

· Putting songs on a spin wheel, on dice, or picking out of a hat is a fun way to choose a new song every time so that it stays fun

2. Put child safe glitter on their hands (a small amount is fine!) and ask them to wash it off. This helps a child get their 20 seconds in!

3. Draw a design on their hand such as a bug or germ and ask them to wash it off (use nontoxic, washable markers of course!)

4. Have child wash a toy while washing their hands.

5. Mix it up with hand sanitizer to make it fun. Kids love the foam stuff if you can get it! (only use hand sanitizer when hands are not visibly dirty)

6. Have the child use a sticker chart to show off their amazing hand-washing skills

Wearing a mask can be scary for kids or something they just don't want to comply with. It is recommended that anyone over 2 wear a mask in public settings as long as they don't have a medical conditions that contradicts this (check with PCP if you are unsure). Here are some ways to make it fun:

1. Decorate masks with stickers

2. If making homemade masks, let the child pick out the fabric

3. Make a silly mask out of their favorite (clean) socks. You tube has some videos that show how this can be done.

4. Play "doctor" or "nurse" with the mask to encourage use and prepare a child before needing to wear it in public.

5. Put masks on dolls and stuffed animals to encourage a child to also wear their mask

6. Draw a mask on their favorite character in a book so they think it's cool to wear a mask.

Sneezing/Coughing etiquette is something most kids don't practice but there are ways of making this fun as well:

1. There is a dance move called "dabbing" in which you bury your head in a bent arm and extend the other arm out. (many examples on YouTube). I saw one teacher use the initials D.A.B. as "Destroy All Bacteria". Dabbing when you sneeze is a fun was to do it appropriately.

2. In younger kids, you can call the bend in the elbow a "sneeze" pocket or "cough" pocket and have them put all their coughs and sneezes into it.

Avoiding touching your face is very hard to do. Most people do this hundreds of times a day and don't even realize they are doing it. Touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with contaminated hands is the most common way people get infected with COVID-19 and most other viruses.

1. Make a game with your family and keep track of how many times family members touch their face. Keep track and whoever has the least amount of touches at the end of the day wins. This fun and competitive game can bring a ton of awareness to people on how often they touch their face and hopefully help them do this less often. ​

If you have any other fun ideas that have worked for you and/or your child, let us know! We would love to spread helpful tips instead of spreading germs!

You can do this! Teach those germ-fighting superheroes skills that will hopefully stay with them for life.

We will eventually get through this! Be Well!

#covid19 #cleankids #pedinurseconsulting #pediatricnurses #goodbyegerms #healthykids #handwashing #masks #donttouchyourface