Nov 01 2007
Let’s Get Ready For Cold and Flu Season
6 top things parents can do to motivate their kids to wash their hands:
1) I remember the commercial, when I was a kid…. “Wash your hands, Roger” where the mom was saying it over and over and over again. Parents we have to say it over and over and over again. It becomes the mantra. They come out of the bathroom and I listen for the sound of the water or if the water doesn’t sound like it’s been on long enough — I will say — wash you hands again, Megan! And she will make that sigh sound as if saying “Mom caught me again!”
2) Squid soap - my kids love it — it’s a squid over a soap with a red dot that they have to rub and rub to get off their hands and the red dot actually keeps them washing and washing. The research says to keep them washing for 20 seconds! I’ve even attached a coupon.
3) We have family rules - cough-wash; sneeze-wash; blow-wash; touch eye-wash; before eating-wash; after school-wash!
4) Make it fun — like a game — catch them washing their hands and reward them or have them sing to you as they are washing their hands — Who needs the shower!…Sing in the sink!
5) Remind them if they are near a sick person, they have to wash, wash, and wash even more! My kids, 8 and 6, have been carrying the anti-bacterial wipes in their backpack at school since preschool and they help themselves as needed. We always have these wipes at home, when we travel and at school.
6) The one who doesn’t get sick wins!!! Have a contest in the family to reward the one who doesn’t get sick or the last one to get sick and make it worthwhile. That includes mom and dad and set the ground rules in the family as to what sick means — cough, cold, sneezing, etc.
Copyright 2007, Stacey Kannenberg, Cedar Valley Publishing, Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! and Let’s Get Ready For First Grade!
It’s never fun being sick. Do you have a favorite product that helps children stay on top of their anti-cold and flu game? Please share! Anything that keeps children as germ-free as possible is a definite plus!
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