14 Ways To Help Your Child Take Hand Washing Seriously

With growing global concern for the spread of COVID-19, there’s never been a more critical time to ensure that you and your family members practice effective handwashing. Unfortunately, research shows that teens and adults–regardless of unique learning needs–don’t have a strong track record of keeping hands clean. If you’re struggling to help your child learn and practice proper handwashing techniques, we’ve put together a list of tools and strategies to help.

What is good handwashing?

Before we share the tools to add to your handwashing toolbox, it’s essential to first talk about what proper handwashing technique is. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) “Clean Hands Save Lives” campaign recommends five basic steps for effective handwashing:

1. Start by wetting hands with clean, running water. Turn off the tap and apply soap.
2. Lather hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to get the backs of hands, between fingers, and fingernails.
3. Scrub hands for at least 20 seconds.
4. Rinse hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry hands using a clean towel or air dryer.

When should we wash hands?

Not only should you teach your child the proper steps for handwashing. It’s also important–if you expect them to take handwashing seriously–to help your child understand when the critical times to wash hands are throughout the day. The CDC recommends that children and adults wash hands:

• During mealtime routines (before, during, and after food preparation; before and after eating).
• During toileting routines (after using the toilet, cleaning up after a child who has used the toilet.)
• After cleaning routines like taking out the garbage, cleaning bathrooms, or using household cleaning products.
• After pet care routines (handling an animal, handling animal waste, touching pet food, or pet treats.)
• After using a tissue to blow your nose.
• After coughing or sneezing.

Need help brainstorming visual reminders? Download our handwashing reminder chart with helpful tips and reminders for when to wash hands.

14 Ways To Help Your Child Take Hand Washing Seriously

#1 – Teach your child the necessary steps.

Often the first step to getting a child on-board with proper handwashing is to teach the sequence and steps. It’s not fair to expect someone to take handwashing seriously if they’ve never been taught how to properly wash hands from the start. Focus on teaching during a time when your child demonstrates readiness and motivation to learn (rather than after you’ve given corrective feedback or your child is in a rush to move on to something else.)

#2 – Use visual reminders.

There’s a reason that restaurants and public places post reminders in restrooms for employees to wash hands before returning to work. Studies show that visual reminders for proper handwashing increase the likelihood that someone will wash hands. Visual reminders can come in different forms depending on your child’s strengths (e.g., symbols, photos of your child, a written list of steps, a reminder to wash, or a combination). Let your child help choose the reminder he or she thinks will be the most helpful to take handwashing seriously.

#3 – Be a good handwashing model.

We know that adolescents and adults learn from watching others so–whenever possible–be a good model of appropriate handwashing for your child. If a child sees a parent getting up to wash after coughing or sneezing or washing hands during meal prep, it’s seen as the ‘right thing to do’ versus a punishment or a burden. When you are modeling proper handwashing, use the techniques and steps you’ve practiced with your child.

#4 – Build handwashing into daily routines.

Chances are you’ve already worked hard to establish daily living routines or continue to use strategies to enhance independence with daily routines. As you focus on life skills like laundry, grocery shopping, and dressing, building in handwashing to those routines. For example, have your child wash hands as soon as they return from a community activity. Or have your child wash hands as the first part of meal preparation. If you build in handwashing as you teach other routines, it becomes an established part of these habits.

#5 – Teach a catchy tune.

As mentioned in the steps above, proper handwashing technique involves rubbing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. For children and adults that struggle with time awareness, teaching handwashing with a catchy tune can help with timing (and make the task more fun.) Reciting the ABCs or two verses of a catchy song like Baby Shark all end up being about 20 seconds. Other parents find a familiar prayer like the ‘Our Father’ to be an easy way to teach the 20-second handwashing length. Find a favorite chorus use that for practicing good scrubbing.

#6 – Watch videos about handwashing.

As a result of the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, hundreds of online videos for children, teens, and adults now exist to teach handwashing. Some of these videos simply show the steps for good handwashing. Others talk more about the science of handwashing and what can happen if we forget to use proper handwashing techniques. Spend some time with your child watching videos together while you’re talking about proper handwashing. If your child already knows the steps, use videos as an occasional reminder or to provide positive reinforcement for how well they remember to carefully wash. Check out this video from the CDC that answers some common questions about handwashing:

#7 – Talk through social stories about handwashing.

Alongside good modeling of handwashing, talk with your child or teen about handwashing using social stories. Social stories can be a useful tool to break down complex or abstract topics like germs and how handwashing can avoid spreading them. Social stories should be individualized whenever possible to the strengths of the learner (use visuals, reduce the amount of language if necessary, use pictures of the child rather than symbols, etc.) Social stories should also be used in partnership with modeling for your child and providing positive feedback or rewarding when your child demonstrates good handwashing behavior.

#8 – Set up timers or reminders.

If your child regularly uses a smartphone or tablet, one easy strategy to help increase the frequency of handwashing is to set reminders or timers. A reminder of “ARE YOUR HANDS CLEAN?” set to go off five to six times throughout the day can serve as a terrific prompt for children, teens and adults alike. If your child doesn’t use a personal device, then set the reminders on your own smartphone or tablet. When the timer goes off, have everyone in the family take a break to wash hands. Visual timers can also be a great tool.

#9 – Allow your child to choose soaps and handwashing supplies.

Depending on your child’s sensitivities, he or she may find strongly scented soaps distracting or aversive. If possible, allow your child to choose their own soaps, towels, or hand sanitizing products. If your child struggles to with unfamiliar restrooms or to wash hands in public sinks, help them identify and learn alternative strategies to use liquid hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes in the community.

#10 – Bring school or work routines back home.

Has your child learned about handwashing at school or from an employer? If so, ask your child’s teacher or workplace if it’s possible to have any visual reminders, routines, or social stories for home as well. Research shows that consistency can be helpful for many adolescents and adults with autism and developmental disabilities. Build on the practice and successes that other professionals have had with your child by bringing those strategies back home.

#11 – Rehearse role plays about the best times to wash hands.

Another way to teach a child about the critical times to wash hands is through role-playing. Make a list of scenarios (or use the list at the top of this post) to practice with the critical times when you want your child to practice proper handwashing. Then rehearse these scenarios with your child until they begin to identify the times without needing reminders. You can even make role-playing into a game where your child has to ‘catch you’ when you forget to wash hands during the role play.

#12 – Show them the science.

Depending on your child’s skills and interests, you may find it valuable to teach them the science behind germs and how handwashing can control the spread of infections. The Centers for Disease Control has a “Show Me The Science” website with links to videos, infographics, and information about the science of handwashing. If your child has a particular interest in science and data, one way to help them take handwashing seriously may be helping them understand the research.

#13 – Set up a behavioral contract.

If you’re confident your child knows the steps and strategies for proper handwashing but still find it challenging to motivate them to take it seriously, it might be helpful to set up a specific behavioral contract related to handwashing. Behavior contracts are a powerful tool used by teachers and special education interventionists to help outline a particular goal and a positive consequence for meeting that goal. Typically, behavior contracts are developed in partnership with the child–allowing them to take responsibility for their own behavior and clearly outlining the motivation they’ll need to be successful with the handwashing routine.

#14 – Have frequent conversations about handwashing and good hygiene.

Finally, it’s not realistic to expect that a one-and-done conversation about handwashing is likely to be sufficient for your loved one to adopt the new habit and take it seriously. Discussions about proper handwashing should happen regularly, especially when there are natural reasons to talk with your child about it. Don’t always start the conversation with corrective feedback or a “you need to do a better job…” strategy. Find other ways to bring up the topic (e.g., “What did you think of the soap I just bought?” or “I saw something on the news today about germs…”)

A Final Word about Handwashing:

While there are no one-size-fits-all solutions to help individuals with diverse learning needs to understand the contagious spread of germs and establish good handwashing routines, we hope that your family finds these tips and strategies helpful. Be persistent. If one approach doesn’t help, continue to adapt, and look for creative ways to continue building the skill.

Don’t forget to download our handwashing reminder chart to post in your home as a reminder for everyone to practice good handwashing habits!

Further Reading:

• Bennett, K. D., & Dukes, C. (2014). A systematic review of teaching daily living skills to adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1(1), 2-10.
• Pandemic Social Stories Direct Access by Carol Gray
• Centers for Disease Control – Clean Hands Save Lives Campaign
• Centers for Disease Control – Hand Washing Video Library
• Centers for Disease Control – Show Me The Science
• Freeman, M. C., et., (2014). Hygiene and health: systematic review of handwashing practices worldwide and update of health effects. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 19(8), 906-916.
• Lee, R. L., & Lee, P. H. (2014). To evaluate the effects of a simplified hand washing improvement program in schoolchildren with mild intellectual disability: A pilot study. Research in developmental disabilities, 35(11), 3014-3025.
• Life Skills Advocate Blog – 6 Ways to Build Independence and Increase Life Skills Everyday