Handwashing is the best way of avoiding germs and passing them around if we get ill. Set a good example to your children by being a regular hand washer yourself. Your children will need help and supervision to wash their hands well until they are around 8 years old and will probably need reminding after that too!

How Often To Wash Hands

Hands should be washed;

• • After using the toilet / changing nappies
  • Before preparing or eating food
  • Before preparing babies bottles
  • After being outside playing or gardening
  • After coughing or sneezing or touching dirty tissues
  • Before and after looking after anyone who is being sick /feeling poorly
  • After touching animals
  • Any other time you think they look grubby!

Washing your hands does not need to take long – about twenty seconds (sing Happy Birthday twice!).

How To Wash Hands

Steps for good handwashing.

• • Wet your hands
  • Add soap to your wet hands
  • Rub hands together palm to palm
  • Use one hand to rub the back of one hand then swap over
  • Clean in between your fingers
  • Rub your fingers into your soapy palms cleaning the nails and tips of fingers
  • Clean your thumbs
  • Rinse well – dry well on a clean towel (paper or dryer when out).

There are great videos for you and your children to watch together to make sure your hand washing works well to protect you from germs.

	How to wash your hands NHS song | NHS A child friendly song explaining how to wash your hands.For a written version of the full technique, head to The NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/he... www.youtube.com