How to Keep Your Kids Well
We all want to keep our kids well. What is the number one doctor recommended advice for keeping your kids well? Wash your hands! Here's a reminder of the steps to teach your children in learning to wash hands.
• Wet your hands with warm water.
• Put soap on your hands. (It does not have to be antibacterial soap; regular bar soap is fine if you use a soap holder that drains.)
• Rub your hands with lots of friction for the length of the ABC song — palms, tops of hands, between fingers, under fingernails, and up your wrists a few inches.
• Rinse with warm water. (In public places, check the water temperature before putting your child’s hands under it. At home, make sure the water heater is not set so high that it can scald your child if she turns only the hot water faucet on.)
• Dry hands well with a clean cloth or dryer.
• If you are in a public place, use the paper towel you dry your hands with to turn off the faucet and open the door.
For more information about keeping your kids well this winter, check out the article "Keeping It Clean: Take Action to Prevent Illness" in the January 2010 issue of ParentLife.
Have your kids stayed well this winter? What's your secret for good health?
