Washing Hands — CHAMPS

With so many new things to explore and learn, it's also important to teach little ones the simple things that still mean a lot.

Here's some handy hints to handwashing:

After the loo and before you eat
Wet your hands thoroughly with cold or warm water
Lather them up with your favourite soap
Give them a good scrub for 20 seconds – getting in between your fingers, up to your wrists and the front and back of your hands
Rinse and dry them well with a clean towel

Remembering this will help keep your children healthy and prevent nasty illnesses from spreading.

If your child needs a little extra encouragement, here's some simple things you can do:

Provide them with a Rewards Chart
Pin a reminder to the bathroom door and to their table mat
Stock up on soaps with a fun scent or that are in a funky shaped bottle
Do it together – kids love to copy!
Make it fun – have them sing Happy Birthday twice or seek out an engaging 20-second timer
Make it easy – make sure they can reach the sink or have a stool they can stand on

Like washing their hands!

Hand washing is one of the simplest things we – and little ones – can do to help prevent the spread of bugs and diseases such as colds, flu, norovirus and COVID-19.

Because you can't see germs, it's important to teach children to wash their hands before they eat and after they use a bathroom.