Teaching Kids about Germs and Handwashing

(Source: National Institutes of Health via Wiki Commons

Teaching kids about germs is pretty important. My 3.5 year old son likes to lick things. Disgusting, right? He will lick a door knob, a bench, a window, a figurine, his brother, me, you name it. Today we were at a play structure and he licked a handle that most undoubtedly had oodles of germs on it. I finally had enough and said to him:

“Do you know what germs are?”
“Yes, they can make me sick.”
“Well, some of them, yes.”
“Can we see germs, mama?”
“No, we can’t see them. That is what makes them even more dangerous to our bodies.”
“Well, what are they, mama?”
“They are bugs that get into your body and can make you very ill.”

At that moment, he face kind of twisted up. I could see his brain trying to wrap itself around bugs crawling from the handle into his mouth. At first, my stomach dropped thinking that “Do or Die” approach wasn’t the most appropriate. I don’t want to raise a person completely nuts about germs. On the other hand, the more he knows, the more likely his behavior will change for the better. I just want him to understand germs, that they can be dangerous but that they can also that the “right kinds” of germs can actually HELP our bodies. So not all germs are bad.

He led the learning on this one. I can’t count on my hands the number of times we’ve converged on learning. Typically I have something in mind and he takes it in another direction, one for which I am often not prepared. Today was different though. We were on the same page.

As I cooked dinner (and by “cook” I mean re-heat pizza and cut up vegetables.), he began asking more questions:

“What do germs look like, mom?”
“Why can’t I see them?”
“If they are so small, why do they make me sick?”
“Can I see them with my magnifying glass?”

Visuals: So, I pulled out my lap top and searched “germ images microscope images” Not only did we find lots of close up images of germs, we also found some great germ learning tools. I was able to introduce words like “bacteria”, “virus”, “protozoa” and “fungi” to him. We even began talking about the function of the immune system. KidsHealth.org has a nice little germ overview with audio.

Hands On Science: So we had the images but how can we demonstrate further in a hands on way what germs really do to within a person’s body. The good news is that there are several easy and concrete science experiments you can do with your preschooler to learn more about the impact of germs. You can use yeast, actually grow mold, use lotion and glitter or cooked rice to demonstrate how germs spread and how tough it is to get them out of our bodies and my favorite: Sprinkle black pepper (“germs”) in a bowl of water. The pepper will float. Then add a drop of dish washing soap into the center of the bowl. Watch the soap “scare the germs away”. (For more detail on some of the ideas mentioned please refer to this preschool science website.)

Practical Life: A great segue into the importance of hand washing. Creating a “hand washing accessible” environment that allows kids the freedom to wash their own hands is key to integrating this important habit into your home. There is a great hand washing guide on the Children’s Health Fund website. Print it out and place it in your home or classroom as a reminder for the child.

In the middle of examining germs on the internet, my son bolted to the bathroom screaming: “Mom, I gotta wash my hands with A LOT of soap.” I don’t want to completely freak him out but I think there is merit to helping him understand germs. There are good and bad germs. Montessori believed that if a child understands the parts of a tree, an animal, etc then he will not only have an understanding of botany and zoology but that he will also gain a respect for these real life things. If you understand how your body works and how food, etc impacts it, then you are more likely to care for yourself in different ways. At least that is what I believe.

In the meantime, I have ordered these books from the library:
Germs Make Me Sick!

Germs Are Not for Sharing

Germs Are Not for Sharing (Ages 4-7)

Germs

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Marnie

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Marnie Craycroft

Founder, Publisher, Writer & Editor at Carrots Are Orange, Inc.

Marnie began Carrots Are Orange in 2010 after the birth of her first son. Carrots Are Orange is a Montessori inspired homeschooling blog for parents and educators. She hails from Maine, a wonderfully down to earth place to grow up. Marnie moved to the west coast in 1999, currently living in Seattle with her husband and two young boys. She is pursuing Montessori certification.