Hand Washing Sesame Street Style
The good folks at Sesame Street have some great resources on hand washing, or as I like to call it “Hand Washing Sesame Street Style.”
These resources pre-date the current Covid-19 pandemic, but they are great for teaching kids about the importance of hand washing. The resources include a video:
The video includes the following description:
Together, enjoy Bebe’s handwashing song. Then, ask kids to describe each of Bebe’s steps. Remind kids: first comes water, then the soap. Then you scrub, rinse, and dry! You might also ask, “Why do you think this family is called the Feelingwells?” “Why and when is it important to wash your hands?”
You can also find an online book called H is for Handwashing which includes suggestions about how to discuss hand washing with kids. You can read the book to your child, or have the computer read it.
Finally, the website includes a printable step-by-step guide to hand washing. The describes how to use the book as follows:
Print this page and invite kids to color it in, then help them cut it apart and put the steps in order. Post the cards in the correct sequence near the bathroom sink. The next time kids wash their hands, help them try Elmo’s trick: Sing the alphabet song to remember how long to wash!
These are great resources to help kids understand the importance of washing their hands while having fun at the same time.
