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Home - Setting
parent partnerships
Supporting children in all their play and learning
environments |
Hand
hygiene activity ideas for preschool and nursery
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For children that enjoy the tactile experience of hand
washing and for those who are a little more reluctant these
ideas try to make water, soap and time a part of children's play, offering
a positive learning experience.
Concepts to explore
Both harmful and beneficial/good bacteria live
all around us.
Hand washing helps to stops the spread of bacteria that can cause
us to feel ill
There are times when washing hands is most important
Vocabulary word sheets to use as
language during hygiene routines and play activities
handwashing words - hand
hygiene word sheet
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20 seconds sing
and rhyme, water, soap now it's time...
rub your
palms and scrub their backs
squish between
your finger tracks
grab each
thumb, gently twist
rinse your
hands so no germ's missed
extend where wanted
paper towel
to dry your skin
once that's done throw in
a bin
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stirring fingertips - liquid soap handwashing rhyme
- hand hygiene rhyme
print, laminate and display
Other posters and hand wash guidance
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Hand
washing themed activities
Practice techniques by washing plastic
and wooden blocks in soapy water filled trays
Play
with the tactile quality of solid soap in water trays
Source pump dispenser
bottles to add to water play - ask parents for spares
Trace around hands and use the shapes
as a base for highlighting the importance of hand washing eg:
Design germs
- harmful and beneficial on paper
Mark-make with white soap on black
handprint shaped paper
Clean mud or whipped snow activity
Source short rhymes/ songs
that help to pass the 20 - 30 seconds needed to lather up & rinse
away
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Timer countdowns - a large wall mounted stopwatch helps to raise awareness
of the time involved with 20-30 seconds and the duration of handwashing
for those that thoroughly enjoy the experience.
Learning opportunities also includes interaction with the
formation of number shape and sequence.
H&S policy &
procedure might involve wiping clock faces along with all other washroom
or toilet surfaces using anti-bacterial wipe/cloth & spray -
ecoleaf by Suma
Clay handprint soap dishes
Use handmade clay soap dishes to hold a squirt
of liquid soap and solid/liquid soap if at home.
Invite children to match hand to hand and so pick up the
soap for hand washing.
Resources needed - air dry clay and acrylic paints to decorate.
Finish with an adult applied coat of polyurethane varnish in a well ventilated area.
This helps to ensure the clay is water & soap proof. If you've
links with a local potter or pottery ask if you could use clay that
can be glazed and fired.
Meeting children's
needs and parental references can mean thinking about sensitive skin,
allergies, eczema, veganism and thoughts about animal tested products,
different products to buy, individual mobility and access.
Water flow extender
Sink step
5ltr sensitive soap from Suma's Ecoleaf range
- on amazon.co.uk
Play
resources for exploring colds, germs and hygiene
Bear feels ill - by Karma
Finger play and hand rhymes books on amazon
Rhinovirus plushies put a germ shape to the children's
common cold experiences ..
amazon
affiliate link
Sequence of washing interactive game - Bobinogs on BBC.co.uk
Magnifying glass and microscope for science play area
Black light and flourescent pens to demonstrate how some things
aren't always visible to our eyes.
Lead hand washing image (c) istock David Hernandez
Reference sources
The recommendations throughout this page are based
on European and UK guidance
2013 pg 10+ Norovirus prevention of cross
infection in childcare settings - ECDC.europa.eu PDF
2010 Guidance on infection control in childcare settings
poster from the Health Protection Agency
How to wash hands and five
moments for hand hygiene in health care - WHO
Beneficial bacteria - Probiotics V Prebiotics on BBC.co.uk
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