We recently conducted a survey of handwashing practices in our pre-school which found that children were washing their hands at appropriate times, but many of them were not washing them properly. Paint stayed in between fingers and sticky glue remained long after creative activities had finished. As a result, we decided to organise an exciting handwashing activity with small groups of children so that staff could explain the necessity of handwashing and show them the correct sequence of actions.
A bowl of warm water was placed on a low table with a sponge, nail brush, soap, paper towels and children's individual hand towels alongside.
Children sat on the floor in front of the table and each chose one of the items to talk about. After talking through how the purpose of each handwashing item, we extended the discussion to include how they washed their hands at home. We were surprised at the many other items the children recalled using, such as liquid soap, wipes and face cloths.
We then invited children to volunteer to have their hands painted. They were highly amused as they watched dark blue paint gradually covering up their previously clean hands. As we moved step-by-step through the processes of handwashing, we tried out all of the resources on the table.
To avoid cross- contamination we changed the water after each child had finished.
Since then, the children have often asked for the 'painted hands' activity and we have noticed a marked difference in the children's attitudes to washing their hands. They certainly spend longer removing every scrap of paint and glue nowadays.
Jane Bell is an assistant at St Oswald's Pre-school Learning Centre in Newton Aycliffe. She spoke to Jean Evans
