Help me enforce hand-washing

Goldengoose ↓

Tue, Dec 31 2024, 4:05 pm

my kid just dont get how important and basic it is to wash their hands thoroughly. to them it's an annoying chore and they don't have patience.
after the bathroom and after school I think it's the minimum to lather up and rinse and wipe fully.
I talk about it often, I explained why it's important, I wash very often because I go from work to changing diapers to cooking to serving. as a mother I'm constantly needing to wash my hands so they see it often.
how do I enforce this?

newyorkgal6

Tue, Dec 31 2024, 5:54 pm

Try doing this experiment with them maybe that will help them understand better
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ho0o7H6dXSU

↑ Goldengoose ↓

Tue, Dec 31 2024, 6:06 pm

newyorkgal6 wrote:

Try doing this experiment with them maybe that will help them understand better
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ho0o7H6dXSU

cool. I will. thanks.

amother

Iris

Tue, Dec 31 2024, 7:15 pm

When my kids were small I often had to stand over them. Demonstrate again and again. It drove me crazy they would pump soap into their palm and then proceed to wash it down the drain immediately. So I 'd model how to scrub my hands and count out loud and then they go under the water. It's a job. But I don't think you can really enforce it without being willing to stand there again, again, again, again.... until it becomes a habit.

amother

Silver ↓

Tue, Dec 31 2024, 7:28 pm

The hand washing is a bit of a mystery to me.
I will say this - I can’t stand long nails and my kids nails are always short.
I didn’t grow up with a lot of hand washing and I don’t push it on my kids. Bh my kids have strong immune systems and don’t get sick often. Bh 1000x over.
We wash after bathroom use and I use gloves for all food handling more cuz of sensory issues than anything else ..
in the winter is better not to wash too often, especially kids who are prone to chapped hands.
Hug away Smile

amother

Bergamot

Tue, Dec 31 2024, 7:31 pm

amother Silver wrote:

Hand washing is the number one way to prevent people getting sick and the spread of germs. Basic germ theory.

OP just keep insisting on it and it will become routine.

amother

Lavender

Tue, Dec 31 2024, 8:00 pm

My dc hates washings hands, says that why do I make him do it, he is the only kid in the class to have to wash them.

↑ Goldengoose

Tue, Dec 31 2024, 10:19 pm

I keep nails very trim and my kids bathe daily. still I feel that after a day in school they need to wash off all that germs.
I'm going to keep being a nag and get attitude but seems that's what it takes.

Last edited by Goldengoose on Tue, Dec 31 2024, 10:36 pm; edited 1 time in total

amother

↑ Silver

Tue, Dec 31 2024, 10:24 pm

amother Bergamot wrote:

Hand washing is the number one way to prevent people getting sick and the spread of germs. Basic germ theory.

OP just keep insisting on it and it will become routine.

That’s great. If someone is sensitive, currently sick or immunocompromised obviously I’d enforce it more. But for the last handful of years we’ve been going to the Dr once a year for well visits..
I should mention I have generally clean kids. I’m very on top of baths, laundry and haircuts. They looks very mesudar. I just don’t feel like the MUST wash when they come home from school. I see I’m a minority. That’s fine, everyone should do what works for them in their own homes