Importance of handwashing in pre-school kids
This paper describes the teaching experience which was obtained when teaching hand washing to the pre-school kids. The activity involved teaching preschool kids on the ways they can thoroughly wash their hands in order to avoid the spread of germs and bacteria which cause diseases. This write-up also provides the strengths and weaknesses that were associated with the activity, the response of the community to the teaching. Hand washing is essential among the pre-school kids since it helps them in keeping proper hygiene and thus preventing the spread of diseases that result from poor hygiene (Chitwood 2015; Chittleborough et.al, 2013). It is therefore vital to teach the preschool kids how to wash their hands and maintain proper hygiene right from their early stages of life.
Teaching kids on various ways of keeping their hands clean are essential in preventing the breakout of diseases that are related to poor hygiene and makes responsible people even when they grow up. However, for the pre-school kids learning how to wash their hands does not imply that they will always do it. They need regular emphasis and being reminded every time by their caretakers to wash their hands and its importance. Therefore, it is necessary for the teachers to always organize lessons to teach the pre-school kids on handwashing. These lessons must be practical since they are essential in improving on the hygiene and entire health of the pre-school kids. Teachers of these kids should involve various steps in their lessons that can help the kids’ concentration, coordination, independence band order.
Thesis: Teaching handwashing to pre-school kids is essential in improving on their hygiene and overall health.
Teaching a community more especially the pre-school kids about handwashing was quite interesting. It involved giving knowledge to the pre-school kids regarding the prevention and spread of germs and diseases and different effective techniques of hand washing. Many people more especially kids do not realize the speed at which germs spread as a result of failure to wash their hands or doing it in an improper way. Before the teaching activity, there was no certainty about the reaction of the people (pre-school kids) after showing them how they can wash their hands especially when they have never done it in their life. Most surprising, majority or all the kids responded positively and were much interested in hearing and learning whatever I said and showed to them. The power point presentation organized was quite useful in teaching by giving the visual aspects on the ways how germs spread and their related causes. However, the doing this presentation to the pre-school kids it was a difficult task for me as a single teacher to execute effectively.
Steps for teaching handwashing to pre-school kids
The teaching implementation involved active listening and identification of the clients’ (pre-school kids) view on hygiene-related concerns. Additionally, pre-school kids were encouraged to ensure regular handwashing to prevent the spread of germs and diseases. The total presentations organized for teaching these kids about handwashing took around 30 minutes which I felt that provided effective learning for the kids. Every kid who participated in the learning activity was more interested in my topic and all of them were more than willing to demonstrate in the similar way that was taught to them. This made me feel more confident to give this useful information and teach the pre-school kids about the importance of washing their hands before and after doing everything. The PowerPoint presentations involving slides with pictures relating to handwashing were predominantly used during the teaching exercise.
The epidemiological rationale for handwashing among the pre-school kids majorly looks at how the activity helped in the reduction of the spread of hygiene-related diseases among kids. Handwashing is essential to people more especially to the pre-school kids who are yet to understand its full importance and how to do it more effectively. Kids adopting handwashing activities has brought about significant improvement in their hygiene and overall health. According to Ellingson et.al, (2014), improvements in hand hygiene more especially through teaching handwashing activities to pre-school kids preventing the infections and spread of germs among them. The widespread and proliferation use of hand sanitizers that are alcohol based has improved on the ability to comfortably and conveniently sanitize hands frequently. This helps to kill germs and prevent the spread of diseases. Though the adherence of the children to the recommended hand hygiene activities is still low, there are various reasons leading to it (Ellingson et.al, 2014; Chittleborough et.al, 2013). The reasons to the low adherence to hand hygiene include; cultural issues, inconvenient placement, and location of sinks, skin irritation and lack of encouragement from the parents and teachers of the pre-school kids (Ellingson et.al, 2014).
More so, there is a vital epidemiological rationale if kids fully follow the stipulated handwashing guide in developed in form of power point presentation. Hand washing acts serve several importance regarding the reduction of a number of hygienic related diseases globally. When kids properly wash their hands, the risks of spreading germs and getting sick are minimized. Hand washing should regularly be done by not only by the kids, but by all people since general hygiene is essential for the entire society. It is an activity necessary for improving on everyone’s hygiene. Kids always engage themselves in dirty activities when playing with their fellows and most times they contract germs from those places or activities. Proper handwashing among preschoolers’ act as the easiest and the best ways preventing the occurrence and spread of germs and diseases to others. It helps in teaching the kids the importance of proper hygiene by explaining to them how important it is to wash their hands. So, falling sick due to poor hygiene resulting from failure to wash the hands among preschoolers can be avoided. Bacteria and germs enter the body through eating dirty/bad items or using dirty hands to eat.
Strengths and weaknesses of teaching handwashing
(Ellingson et.al, 2014).
Handwashing is a simple activity that every kid and adults are required to understand very well. At the beginning of the handwashing teaching session, soap and clean water were provided to the pre-school kids. This purposely aimed at showing the audience (pre-school kids) that whatever it requires to deliver high-quality information and training was available. During the session of handwashing, kids were allowed to ask for the proper steps to follow when removing all the germs and dirt from their hands. The exercise was executed very well and it was quite fascinating to both the kids and their facilitator. Kids learned various ways on how they can wash their hands thoroughly and kill all germs which cause diseases. Various interactive discussions were conducted between the facilitator and the kids where various questions and answers on proper maintenance of personal hygiene were raised.
The handwashing sessions with the pre-school kids were very interesting as the kids showed their high interests in learning how to improve on their personal hygiene through handwashing. For instance, kids learned about how warm water helps to kill germs faster and even encourages kids to wash their hands. Use soap while washing the hands and lather up for around 20.0 seconds. In this case, any soap works better other than only antibacterial soap. Ensure that water and soap get under that nails and between the fingers where germs prefer hiding. Dry and rinse very well the hands of the kids with a clean towel. All these were interesting lessons learned by the pre-school kids during the handwashing sessions.
There is a strong positive response to handwashing activities in the community, particularly among the pre-school kids. Both parents and their kids have doubled their efforts towards the improvement of their personal and family hygiene. The teaching of handwashing helped the community more especially the pre-school kids to fully understand the value of cleaning their hands and how to do it best. The similar gospel was also emphasized by the parents of the kids in order to help in preventing the spread of hygiene-related infections or diseases (Chittleborough et.al, 2012). Handwashing has been made a routine activity both at school and at home among the pre-school kids. This has been much enforced before the mealtimes, where kids are always required to wash their hands before joining the dining table to have meals. All caretakers of the pre-school kids have continuously emphasized and ensured that this occurs in their presence. Thus, this has helped the kids in making handwashing part of their life activities right from their early ages.
Handwashing among the pre-school kids and the adults has various strengths towards the improvement of their personal hygiene. For instance, washing the hands of the kids with warm water significantly help in the killing of germs and the reduction of the spread of diseases (Weel, 2015). All the caretakers of these kids have ensured that the kids thoroughly wash their hands with warm water and soap before and after every task. However, much has to be done by health care workers, teachers and parents of the pre-school kids to improve on their handwashing habits. For instance, all required materials to be used in effective hand washing such as warm water, soap, water sinks and clean towels should be made available and convenient for all pre-school kids.
References
Chittleborough, C., R., Nicholson, A. L., Basker, E., Bell, S., & Campbell, R. (2012). Factors influencing handwashing behavior in primary schools: process evaluation within a randomized controlled trial. Health Education Research, Volume 27, Issue 6, 1 December 2012, Pages 1055–1068. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cys061
Chittleborough, C., R., Nicholson, A. L., Basker, E., Bell, S., & Campbell, R. (2013). Implementation of an educational intervention to improve hand washing in primary schools: process evaluation within a randomized controlled trial. Research article-BMC Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-757
Chitwood, D. (2015). Handwashing Activities for Kids – Free Songs and Lessons. Retrieved from: https://livingmontessorinow.com/handwashing-activities-for-kids-free-songs-and-lessons/
Ellingson, K., Haas, J., Aiello, A., Kusek, L., Maragakis, L., Olmsted, R., & Yokoe, D. (2014). Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections through Hand Hygiene. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 35(8), 937-960. doi:10.1086/677145
Weel, C.V. (2015). Handwashing and community management of infections. Volume 386, ISSUE 10004, P1603-1604, October 24, 2015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60460-3
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