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Why Hand Washing Is Important for Preschoolers

If you've spent any time around preschoolers, you may have noticed that they have an unbelievable ability to get messy. Preschoolers may need reminders to wash their hands after doing art projects, playing outdoors, eating and using the toilet. Children this age often will not wash their hands thoroughly enough, so supervise them to make sure they've used enough soap and scrubbed every part of their hands.

  1. Health of the Child

    • Preschoolers' hands are constantly covered in dirt, paint, food and their own germs. Many children this age are constantly sticking their hands in their eyes, noses and mouths, transferring dirt and bacteria directly into their bodies. Once a child gets sick, having the sniffles isn't the only side-effect. Preschoolers can miss valuable lessons by staying home sick from school. A classroom study found that using antibacterial soap reduced the number of student absences by 50 percent, according to Scholastic.

    Health of Others

    • In a classroom of preschoolers, one sick child is all it takes to infect the entire class. According to Scholastic, 80 percent of infectious diseases are caused by contact with another sick person, or a surface covered in bacteria. Meningitis, hepatitis A and even infectious diarrhea can be spread through human contact -- not to mention the common cold and influenza. When preschoolers wash their hands thoroughly, they can kill these germs before they're spread.

    Cleanliness

    • Preschoolers can go from clean to sticky or dirty in seconds, and their curious nature means that children can quickly make a mess of their classroom or home. Frequent hand-washing makes it easier for you to keep your home or school clean. It's easier for preschoolers to wash their hands than it is for you to wash jelly or paint off the walls and tables. Encouraging preschoolers to stay clean and keep their environment clean also teaches them to respect and care for their surroundings.

    Hygiene Practice

    • Preschoolers are just starting to become responsible for their own cleanliness and hygiene, rather than relying on their parents to help them brush their teeth and wash their hands. While children may only bathe once a day and brush their teeth two or three times, they may wash their hands up to a dozen times a day. Washing their hands this often helps preschoolers see that keeping clean should be a standard part of their daily routine.

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