Getting Kids Excited About Washing Hands
With cold and flu season rapidly approaching, to protect my family, I want to make sure that I’m teaching my children healthy habits. One of those healthy habits includes washing hands. However, if your child is anything like mine, it can be a struggle to get them to wash. Nonetheless, I’ve found that if I make washing hands an exciting event, my son is much more likely to wash his hands more frequently and without a fight. Check out these tips for getting kids excited about washing hands.
I received samples and compensation in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.
Getting Kids Excited About Washing Hands
Get them a stepping stool: I find that if my son is able to reach the water and soap all by himself, the independence helps him want to wash his hands. Nothing brings more joy to my ears than hearing my son say “No mom, I wash my hands by myself.”
Make bubbles: After my son washes his hands, I often reward him by letting him make bubbles in the sink.
Give praise: When you notice that your child washes their hands all by themselves, be sure to reward them with praise and love. Rewarding positive behavior makes children a lot more likely to repeat that good behavior.
Sing a song: Not only does singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or the Alphabet Song help your child know how long to wash their hands, but it also makes washing fun and exciting. If nothing else, pump up some music and let your child dance while washing their hands to fun and upbeat music.
Choose the right kind of soap: Involve your child in the hand washing process by allowing them to choose their favorite kind of soap. Whether allowing them to choose hand soap by color, smell, or design, using a soap your child loves will help them want to wash their hands.
Right now, my family’s very favorite kind of hand soap is Seventh Generation. Not only does it rid our hands of germs, but because Seventh Generation is a trusted and natural brand, I don’t have to worry about harsh chemicals or residue being left behind. Not to mention, I absolutely LOVE the different scents: Hibiscus & Cardamon, Black Current & Rosewater, Lavender Flower & Mint, Mandarin Orange & Grapefruit.
Unlike most hand soaps that leave my hands cracked and dry, Seventh Generation’s natural ingredients provide my skin with the perfect moisture. Just one of the many reasons Seventh Generation is a brand my family trusts.
Be sure to visit Seventh Generation and browse their numerous safe and effective household products.
My son is at a fun age right now and he LOVES to wash his hands. He does pick soaps by color, lol
We only use chemical free handsoaps so this gets me excited too! Happy to try all the new scents out!
I never had this problem with my kids because they love to wash their hands all the time. They love it when they use a nicely scented soap. I will check this out.
It can be difficult to get kids to understand why and how often to wash their hands! Invisible germs are a difficult concept to grasp for young ones!
Ah I miss that cute boy! Great ideas! We have the same candle too 🙂 Great minds…
When the kids were younger i would let them pick out the hand soap they liked. We would set a timer so they knew when they had been washing long enough.
These are great tips. Wish I would have had these when my children were younger. But I will be passing these ideas on to others I know.
Washing your hands is very important. It would be fun for the kids to use and get them to wash more.
These are awesome ideas. You really have to do everything you can to encourage washing hands.
We always let our kiddo pick out the soap that he wanted so that he would be excited to use it. These are all great tips!
All great ideas! I love that you let him make bubbles in the sink… makes it a fun time!
This time of year it really helps to have them help you by washing their hands. Nobody likes to get sick!
I love this! It’s a great idea to get excited about washing hands. They feel so accomplished.
Around here, my kids know that they have to wash their hands. It’s just part of our daily routine.
I had such a hard time getting my son to wash his hands. I wish I’d had these tips when he was a kid!
Anything you can do to get kids excited about washing their hands is always welcome. They are so germy!
I love the products from Seventh Generation! I would try anything to get my kids to wash their hand more often!
My youngest is going through a phase where he doesn’t want to wash. Thanks for the tips!
Washing your hands is so important. These are some really great ideas, My grandson would love the playing with bubbles in the sink.
It is so important to get kids excited about washing their hands! Cold and flu season is right around the corner and getting nice kids hands soap is what I do to make it fun to wash their hands!
Thanks for sharing. The good thing about my daughter is that she loves washing her hands!
We use Spider-Man soap and add a squirt of hand sanitizer after we wash. The earlier they learn good health/hygiene habits, the better.
Oh I have to try these! We love their dishwasher soap! Carter loves to wash his hands and play in the water! We try to make it fun too….and with flu season coming….we always wash our hands when we come home from being out and about.
I agree it’s a great idea to choose a fun soap. Something that smells good or has a colorful bottle should engage them.
I have never tried this before but think my kids would like it also. The one we do have is a fruit scent and my kids are forever washing their hands. My youngest is the biggest hand washer