How to keep germs away and bond with your kids.
April 21, 2012 in Children's Health Education, Uncategorized
I like you, you're fun!
Kids love games and challenges, attention and bonding and unknown to them we can craftily teach them what they need to learn. Here is a simple game to play with kids to help foster good hand washing or hand sanitizing practices, preventing the spread of germs that make us sick and creating an atmosphere of learning and laughter.
Safety pin game:
Remember the games you’ve played at baby showers, this was one of my favorite, it really keeps you on your toes.
1. Collect 5 small safety pins for each person who will be participating.
2. Attach the pins on outer clothing, you can connect the pins to each other if you like.
3. Set the rules for playing. Make rules simple for younger children. The older children 5-8 yr olds will enjoy this game the most. Play this game as you go out shopping.
A. Remind the children that when they touch things and then touch their mouth, nose or eyes, this is when germs get into their bodies.
B. The object of the games is to not touch your mouth, nose or eyes with your bare hands, it is OK to use a clean tissue to scratch an itch or wipe a runny nose, just no bare hands.
C. When you see a participant touch their mouth, nose or eyes, that person must give one of their pins to you. You call out-You touched your _____, give me your pin & sanitize. Mom-your job will be to help with the sanitizer after the child touches his forbidden mouth, nose or eyes, a little dab will do ya. Later when you make a potty stop everyone can give their hands a good washing, another teachable moment.
D. The one with the most pins at the end of the shopping trip gets to pick the special activity or treat that you will all enjoy together.
Sooo, items you will need: safety pins, tissues (let each child put a couple in his pocket) and hand sanitizer.
I like carrying one of the Purell hand sanitizers which has a niffy easy to get to plastic holder that straps to your shoulder strap or a ring on your handbag. The little bottle is easy to refill with your favorite sanitizer.
Hand sanitizer helps prevent germs.
Other activities you may enjoy to re-enforce learning. Sing a hand washing song.
Name surfaces that may have germs, have an older child write the list as you shop.
Read more posts about hand washing and germ prevention:
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Ms. Dawn, The Singing Nurse
