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 sure my kids wash their 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 and prevent colds and illnesses.
But Teaching Kids About Germs Can Be FUN!
So I thought I’d go to my blogging mama friends to see how they are teaching kids about germs and personal hygiene. Let’s take a look…
This post includes affiliate links, however, all opinions are authentic and my own. Please see my disclosure policy.
Ideas for Teaching Kids About Germs & Hand Washing
Use Glitter to Show How Germs Spread – Jenae of I Can Teach My Child shows how she used glitter to teach her kids about how germs spread from hands to surfaces and other people.
Grow Some Germs – This simple science experiment shared over at Playdough to Plato allows kids to actually see how germs grow more on apples that are handled with dirty hands versus clean hands.
Make Little Germ Puff Balls – Make these little germ puff balls, from OT Toolbox, to give kids a tangible example of how germs spread with a sneeze or cough.
Teach Kids Personal Hygiene with Books & Toys!
Teaching kids how to stay healthy through handwashing and good personal hygiene doesn’t have to be boring! Check out these children’s books, toys, and resources for teaching your kids how to wash their hands and stay healthy.
Use Sequencing Cards for Learning Proper Hygiene – My friend Renae, of Every Star Is Different, shares an entire Montessori-inspired preschool unit based on learning about the body, the immune system, and germs. She includes links to download free sequencing cards for teaching proper nose-blowing, hand washing, and more!
Give the Kids Coloring Pages About Germs – Let the kids learn about germs and hygiene while coloring with these free kids coloring pages from Crystal and Co.
Teach Hand Washing with a SONG! – My friend Amanda, of The Educators’ Spin On It, shares how she makes hand-washing fun for her kids with a cute little song to the tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush”. She even has different verses to teach kids all of the times that hand washing is necessary!
More Ideas for Moms from B-Inspired Mama:
- Why and How to Teach Kids to Serve Others
- Tips for Teaching Kids Respect for Previous Generations
- How to Keep the Kid Health Train on Track ALL School Year
- Healthy Habits for Families + Small Ways to Implement Them
- Toddler Activities Made EASY – for Busy Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers
Aya says
Thank you
Laurie says
It is great to be able to explain things to kids in a fun way. Thank you for providing a few little fun ways to teach kids about germs. It is essential to do so in order to help keep them healthy.