Backpacks, #2 pencils, washable markers and hand sanitizer. It’s that time of year again – back to school – where our children will be taught to share freely with others…a lesson they will carry out quite well…when it comes to GERMS.
Clean hands are a first step in stopping the spread of germs. A good lather with soap for a full 20 seconds (try singing happy birthday or ABC’s) followed by a warm rinse is the best prevention. Alcohol-based hand rubs are also effective and come in sizes and scents to fit almost anyone’s fancy. We love the Bath & Body Works collection at our house and their mini sanitizer can be hooked to a diaper bag or purse with a lovely, colorful gel holder.
Another motivation for hand washing might be a special soap. A friend of mine uses a liquid soap pump with a hand stamp at the top so that when the dispenser is pressed, one hand is marked with the stamp. The idea is to lather until the stamp disappears – it makes hand washing a whole lot more fun.
We’ve gotten pretty good at the lather and rinse at our house (the soap mess is a battle I’m not choosing – for now) but the dry was becoming a real problem…and the hand towel was at the center of it all…Who did it belong to? Why was it wet? Who had muddy hands? Who left it on the ground? Who wiped the toilet seat with it (seriously?)???
And…Why doesn’t it come clean when I wash it? *I still don’t have the answer to that one!
So, we came up with a fun solution that seems to be working so far, yay! It’s inexpensive, full of sentiment and, of course, super fun to make.
No-Sew Handprint Hand Towel
- Find an inexpensive, cute hand towel for each child (we scored ours at the dollar store!).
- Use a scrap of fabric or an old shirt/dress to trace your child’s handprint.
- Using double-sided fuse (you’ll find it in the craft section), iron the handprint to one side as directed.
- Cut the hand out with fuse attached…or let your child do the cutting if they can!
- Fuse the handprint to the hand towel according to the fuse instructions…usually just a few seconds with a warm iron.
Easy as that! These adorable hand towels are not only encouraging for germ-free hands but super cute and a great keepsake too! I’ve noticed my children taking special care of theirs – no more towels draped over the open toilet seat now that they have ownership in the deal, ha.
Washing Hands With Soap and Water…
- Wet hands with warm, clean running water.
- Add soap, lather and scrub all surface area including under fingernails.
- Scrub for a full 20 seconds – sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
- Rinse well under the running water.
- Dry on a paper towel or air dryer.
- Use your paper towel to turn the faucet off.
Washing With Hand Sanitizer…
- Apply to the palm of one hand.
- Rub hands together.
- Rub product over all surfaces of hands until dry.
*Scrubbing with soap and water may be the only way to remove some types of spores.
When To Wash Your Hands…
- Before preparing or eating food.
- After using the bathroom.
- After changing a diaper or assisting a child in the bathroom.
- Before and after helping someone who is sick.
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- After handling an animal or animal waste.
- After handling garbage.
- Before and after treating a cut or wound.
Remind others to wash their hands too!
Author: Jaime
Jordyn
Very creative idea! Cheap,cute, and stops fight while promoting a sence of responsibility; It does not get any better than that when your dealing with the little guys. You could even incoperate the older kids by using traceable ABC stencils and putting their name and/or nickname on a towel. I could completly see my 9 year old (going on 19) niece using a pink poka dot towel filled with butterfly cut outs and her name stencled across it.
lori
Awesome! I love love love it! Great idea to make the dreaded washing hands more fun! Even better that something they made can be part of the home decor.