Global Handwashing Day: Get the most (language) out of washing your hands
That's right - October 15th is Global Handwashing Day! Who knew there was a worldwide day for washing your hands! During these unprecedented times and the flu season coming up, it’s even more important to remember to wash our hands often to keep those germs away and prevent from spreading germs to others. But did you know, it’s not as quick as just rinsing our hands for 5 seconds? The CDC recommends that we scrub our hands for at least 20 seconds to get all those germs off! Feel long? Here are some songs using familiar tunes to make hand washing more fun while supporting your kiddos language development!
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Wash, wash, wash your hands
Soap will make them clean
Scrub them here
Scrub them there
And scrub them in between
Wash, wash, wash your hands
Soap will make them clean
Rub until the soap falls off
Now your hands are clean
Happy Birthday (repeat 2 times)
Wash hands well each day
To keep germs away
Scrub with soap and water
And be on your way
This is the Way (repeat 2 times)
This is the way we wash our hands
Wash our hands
Wash our hands
This is the way we wash our hands
** Before we go to eat
** Change the last line for other activities:
After we use the potty, After we play outside
If You’re Happy And You Know It (repeat 2 times)
If you’re happy and you know it, wash your hands!
If you’re happy and you know it, wash your hands!
If you’re happy and you know it
Scrub your hands
Rub your hands
If you’re happy and you know it, wash your hands!
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (repeat 2 times)
Twinkle, twinkle little star
Look how clean my two hands are
Soap and water, wash and scrub
Get those germs off rub-a-dub
Twinkle, twinkle little star
Look how clean my two hands are
What does singing a song while hand washing do?
Create a Verbal Routine: Creating and using the same words over and over again, whether it be in books or songs, helps build and support language development. This process is a part of creating a “verbal routine.” Singing repetitive songs and making them a part of everyday routines make it predictable for kiddos, which means kiddos learn to EXPECT and PREDICT not only the steps in the routine, but also the WORDS in the song!
Build Vocabulary: By singing a song with words relevant to the activity, not only will it be fun to dance and sing along, it also simultaneously creates a language rich environment with words that your kiddo is learning along with their actions.
Encourage Filling In: Once you’ve repeated it enough times and you’ve established this routine, every once in a while pause (at least 3 seconds) during the song and wait to see if your kiddo will fill in the words.
Make it Fun!: Singing makes everything fun! The more fun your kiddo is having while doing something as ordinary as washing their hands, the more exciting and engaging it can be while also teaching them language.
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a FREE 'Steps to Wash Your Hands' visual. Print it, go through the steps, put it on the wall near the sink, and begin using it to teach your kiddos how to properly wash their hands while learning language along the way!