15 Clever Ideas to Teach Hand Washing in a Fun Way

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy for more information.

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Have your kids gotten their “back to school colds” yet? It never fails; within a month of being back to school, the colds and illnesses start circulating through my kids and family.

And it’s no surprise since according to a recent “Ew-dentification” survey of nearly 500 school nurses nationwide, commissioned by pediatric brands of the Pfizer Consumer Healthcare:

“…more than half of all school nurses (55%) reported that sick begins to spread somewhere between two and four weeks into the school year, while 19% see it as early as one week.”

I try to make it a habit to have my kids wash hands as soon as they get home from school. But, I know there’s more I can do to encourage them to have better hygiene for better prevention of colds, flu, and infections.

How to Teach Hand Washing — in a Fun Way!

So I thought I’d go to my blogging mama friends to see what fun hand washing activities and germ activities they’re using to teach hand-washing and personal hygiene to their preschool kids. Let’s take a look…

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Fun Hand Washing and Germ Activities for Preschool Kids

1. How Germs Spread Activity with Glitter

Glitter germs are the perfect tool for teaching kids about the spread of germs — from person to person and across surfaces, too.

2. Black T-Shirt Germ Activity for Preschool

Or, if you have a group of kids, have them each wear a black t-shirt and use crushed chalk as tiny germs that spread from child to child.

3. Growing Germs Science Experiment

This easy germ activity invites kids to observe how bacteria grows more on apples handled with dirty hands versus those handled with clean hands.

4. Make Germs Scatter Experiment

This fun science experiment uses plain old pepper as germs to teach kids how soap makes germs scatter.

5. Food Coloring Handwashing Activity

All you need is some liquid soap, food coloring, and disposable gloves for an instant lesson on handwashing skills.

6. Easy Germ Craft and Activity for Kids

Help your preschooler turn pom poms into little germs they can use as tangible examples of how germs spread with a sneeze or cough.

7. Montessori Activities for Teaching About Germs and Hygiene

Try some of these Montessori-inspired preschool activities for teaching kids personal hygiene, including free printable sequencing cards for teaching hand washing, nose-blowing, and more.

8. Spreading Germs Coloring Pages

Invite your preschooler to learn about germs and hand-washing through coloring! Free printable coloring pages all about how germs spread make it easy peasy.

9. Fun Toy-Filled Liquid Soap for Kids

Have your little one help choose some small animal toys, mini novelty erasers, or LEGO bricks to put inside a clear soap dispenser to make hand washing a little more fun.

10. DIY Treasure Soap for Kids

Or, make a bar of homemade soap with a special toy inside! Your little one will want to wash their hands all the time to get closer to releasing the little treasure.

11. Fun Handwashing Song for Kids

Make teaching hand-washing fun for preschoolers with a cute little song to the tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush”. There are even different verses to teach about different times hand-washing is necessary.

12. When and How to Wash Your Hands Posters

Grab free printable posters for your bathroom from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) that feature colorful visual reminders of when and how to wash hands. One breaks the handwashing process down into five simple steps: wet, soap, scrub, rinse, dry.

13. Free Printable Hand Washing Social Story

Try this free printable social story book to teach hand washing, complete with detailed steps and full color photos instead of just clipart.

14. Germ-Themed Activity Pack

Print these free germ activity sheets that make teaching kids about hand washing more fun with hands-on activities like coloring, tracing, sorting, and more!

15. Children’s Books that Teach Hand Washing

Children’s books are always a great way to teach kids important lessons in an engaging and memorable way. Consider the following books to teach kids about handwashing and germs:

• Germs Are Not for Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick and Marieka Heinlen
• Germs vs. Soap: A Silly Hygiene Book about Washing Hands! by Didi Dragon and Hannah Robinett
• I Don’t Want to Wash My Hands! by by Tony Ross

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Toys and Children’s Books for Teaching Kids About Germs and Hand Washing:

Teaching kids about germs and proper handwashing doesn’t have to be boring! Check out these children’s books, toys, and resources that can help you teach hand washing and good hand hygiene in a fun way.

Relaxcation Soap Set for KidsWash Your Hands!: Keeping Clean in a Messy WorldXPECIAL Faucet Extender for Toddlers and KidsGerms and Handwashing Posters for KidsEveryday Solutions Soapbuds Hippo Refillable Soap DispenserGerms Are Not for Sharing (Board Book)MEandMine Aha! Healing – Body Science Kit for KidsSmileMakers Handwashing Stickers – 100 per PackGerms vs. Soap: A Silly Hygiene Book about Washing Hands! (Hilarious Hygiene Battle)Steve Spangler’s Growing Bacteria Science Experiment KitI Don’t Want to Wash My Hands!Nectar Bath Treats Soap MinisEducational Insights Nancy B’s Science Club Mighty Microbes Lab & Germ JournalLUXSWAY Kids Musical Timer for Teethbrushing and HandwashingHOM ABA/OT Approved Step-by-Step Handwashing PosterZaaina Kids Soap Bar SetTeacher Created Resources Germ Tracker Activity Kit

 

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Like these Handwashing Activities and Germs Activities? Save ‘Em & Share ‘Em!

Don’t forget to save these preschool germ activities to come back to. And share them with friends! Simply use the buttons at the top or bottom of this post. Or, click here: Share on Facebook | Tweet It | Pin It | Email to a Friend

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More Ideas and Fun Activities for Kids from B-Inspired Mama:

• 5 Simple but Fun Ways to Ensure Healthy Kids
• “Natural” Truck Wash Sensory Play for Toddlers
• How to Keep the Kid Health Train on Track ALL School Year
• Healthy Habits for Families + Small Ways to Implement Them

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Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy for more information.