How do you get your kids to wash their hands?

12/10/2010 01:50:21 PM · #1

My 9yo is sick more often than the rest of us, and I suspect it's because she's always touching her mouth with hands infested by all her disgusting classmates.

Also, everything in my house is coated in sticky goo from both my kids. Good for rust prevention, but still annoying to me.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

12/10/2010 02:03:09 PM · #2

Serious answer? Or Joke answer?

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

12/10/2010 02:06:53 PM · #3

Grog gives advice. Cover youngling's hands with blood of slain enemy. Then you know if youngling is to be great warrior or anal-retentive clean freak.

You thank Grog for advice. Leave for grog many comments on sucky challenge entry.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/10/2010 02:57:17 PM · #4

If you are referring to the various viruses which cause the "common cold," then the one advantage of this situation is that she will acquire immunity and be less likely to become ill when exposed to those same viruses later. I have no magic answer to getting kids to wash their hands more often -- it's even a problem in hospitals.

Have you tried explaining this cause-and-effect relationship (hands-to-mouth = get sick) to her? Maybe try framing it as an experiment -- have her wash frequently for a couple of months and see if she gets sick less frequently, then let her "fall off the wagon" and see if she gets sick right away ...

Good luck! If you find something which works, I'll be happy to help design and market the best-seller self-help book ... ;-)

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

12/10/2010 03:07:41 PM · #5

Originally posted by GeneralE:

I've explained the cause/effect too often. It's no use. :-(

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

12/10/2010 03:17:50 PM · #6

Duct tape her hands behind her back so she can't pick her nose.

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

12/10/2010 03:18:26 PM · #7

You might try some hand sanitizer. its faster to use than washing hands, so she might be more apt to use it.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

12/10/2010 03:21:24 PM · #8

She may have some bad habits, but she comes by them honestly.

You should be proud.

12/10/2010 03:26:06 PM · #9

Originally posted by BAMartin:

You might try some hand sanitizer. its faster to use than washing hands, so she might be more apt to use it.

Hand sanitizer is actually quite ineffective and is mostly just a placebo. It's an illusion and, at best, an incredibly short-term solution for emergencies. Anyone using hand-sanitizer should still be washing their hands within 20 minutes of doing so, actually, or they've really done nothing.

12/10/2010 03:27:12 PM · #10

Originally posted by BAMartin:

You might try some hand sanitizer. its faster to use than washing hands, so she might be more apt to use it.

Ooh, good idea. At least she might use it when coming home from that germy school. I get home from work four hours after her, and my wife's hands are always coated with candy, so she's not much of a role model.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/10/2010 03:27:49 PM · #11

Originally posted by K10DGuy:

Originally posted by BAMartin:
You might try some hand sanitizer. its faster to use than washing hands, so she might be more apt to use it.

Hand sanitizer is actually quite ineffective and is mostly just a placebo. It's an illusion and, at best, an incredibly short-term solution for emergencies. Anyone using hand-sanitizer should still be washing their hands within 20 minutes of doing so, actually, or they've really done nothing.

dang!

UrfaK

Canon EOS-650/T4i Rebel

12/10/2010 03:28:27 PM · #12

I admit I use the 'ew, that's so gross, I know you're too cool to not wash your hands before eating, right?' in a completely incidental kind of way on all the kids of all ages I've had to babysit but then I was the older cousin/aunt who they needed to impress.. parents just can't conjure up that magic :P

12/10/2010 03:28:32 PM · #13

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

She may have some bad habits, but she comes by them honestly.

You should be proud.

LOL, at least it's her own, not her classmates'. :-D

12/10/2010 03:33:55 PM · #14

Ok, I hate to say this slippy, but there's no easy solution. No quick fix :D Washing hands is, like brushing teeth or other similar things, a habit forming activity. All you can do is be vigilant. You have to take your daughter into the washroom and MAKE her wash her hands after every activity where you feel that it needs to be done. After meals, after bathroom visits, after snacks, after outdoor play, that sort of thing. You have to instill in her a habit of washing hands that becomes second nature.

Good news is, she's still young and it will still be rather easy to instill this habit. You'll also have to be the example for her. Wash your hands with her every time (even if you don't deem it necessary.) Make it into a "thing" you do with her. Turn it into a game. (although not a "who can finish first" game, you don't want to instill lazy or speedy wand washing). Don't offer rewards, however, as that will only turn it into a "thing I do for treats" issue and that's never a good thing.

Vigilance. That's all you can do.

Mick

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/10/2010 04:11:47 PM · #15

Originally posted by K10DGuy:

I agree with everything except the "Don't offer rewards" part. Actually, training a kid is very similar to training a dog. Repetition, consistency, reward, and punishment. With most kids, the reward or punishment doesn't need to be much. A simple smile or frown will suffice to let them know how you feel. It's most important to start when they are young and be consistent.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

12/10/2010 04:13:53 PM · #16

Originally posted by Mick:

Originally posted by K10DGuy:
Ok, I hate to say this slippy, but there's no easy solution. No quick fix :D Washing hands is, like brushing teeth or other similar things, a habit forming activity. All you can do is be vigilant. You have to take your daughter into the washroom and MAKE her wash her hands after every activity where you feel that it needs to be done. After meals, after bathroom visits, after snacks, after outdoor play, that sort of thing. You have to instill in her a habit of washing hands that becomes second nature.

Good news is, she's still young and it will still be rather easy to instill this habit. You'll also have to be the example for her. Wash your hands with her every time (even if you don't deem it necessary.) Make it into a "thing" you do with her. Turn it into a game. (although not a "who can finish first" game, you don't want to instill lazy or speedy wand washing). Don't offer rewards, however, as that will only turn it into a "thing I do for treats" issue and that's never a good thing.

Vigilance. That's all you can do.

I agree with everything except the "Don't offer rewards" part. Actually, training a kid is very similar to training a dog. Repetition, consistency, reward, and punishment. With most kids, the reward or punishment doesn't need to be much. A simple smile or frown will suffice to let them know how you feel. It's most important to start when they are young and be consistent.

In certain areas, this is true. When trying to form a habit, however, it is not. Being congratulatory and using positive reinforcement as "reward" is a separate concept form giving material reward, however. The former is ALWAYS ok. The latter is only ok in certain circumstances.

Message edited by author 2010-12-10 16:16:25.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

12/10/2010 04:19:59 PM · #17

Originally posted by K10DGuy:

Vigilance. That's all you can do.

Somehow I can't picture Slippy as a vigilante........8~)