Good hand washing habits start from young.
Children love playing, exploring and touching new things. They will touch their faces, rub their eyes or put their hands into their mouths. Their immune system is less developed as compared to adults, and they may fall sick frequently from infectious diseases. Thus, it is important for you to teach your child good personal hygiene such as hand washing.
Proper hand washing is the first line of defence against the spread of germs that will lead to various infections and diseases. The simple act of washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds reduces germ count up to 99 per cent.
Related: Keep Those Little Hands Clean
Remember to model good hand washing behaviour to your child from young so that he will carry this healthy habit through to adulthood. He will be more willing to do it if he sees you doing it as well. Just 30 seconds of hand washing could make a difference to your health, and the health of your little one!
Related: Why are Clean Hands Important for Children
(sing to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
Children are more open to hand washing if you make it fun. Get your child to wash his hands to this jingle!
Chorus:
“So we washy washy clean,
scrub scrub
We washy washy clean, scrub scrub
It’s fun to wash your hands and I
know you’ll understand
We washy washy clean, scrub scrub!”
Apart from hand washing, having a healthy lifestyle (healthy diet and regular exercise) is also important to strengthen one's immune system to fight against infectious diseases.
Visit Parent Hub, for more useful tips and guides to give your child a healthy start.
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This article was last reviewed on 15 Nov 2022
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Youth Preventive Dental Service (YPDS) provides oral health screening for pre-schoolers at some childcare centres as part of the Preschool Oral Health Screening and Fluoride Therapy Programme. Parents may access Healthhub to obtain the 'Information Sheet for Parents', which contains screening outcomes and the recommended follow-up action.
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