With flu season already bombarding our homes, staying clean is important for all of us. In my effort to transform our adult environment at home into one where our boys feel liberated and independent, this week for Montessori in the Home, I focused on the process of washing hands.
I wish that I could break down a wall and install a kids-sized sink, toilet, towel rods, etc., but alas, I cannot do that, at least not right now. So, we'll do our best to make adjustments for the betterment of our boys' development in mind.
Montessori at Home – Washing Hands
Generally, my goal is to make the bathroom kid-friendly, try to lead by example (modeling is huge in kid development, right?), and make hand washing a part of our daily routine before and after meals and after playing outside, at a park or in some other germy place.
Sink Space
I will make it accessible with a two-step stool. I also made the space simple and clean by removing anything that might distract him. The setup is very simple. A sink and a soap pump. I am going to add a fun sponge/scrubber for him soon.
Two Step Stool
My children are not going to be very tall, so a two-step stool was definitely required. We originally purchased the Bjorn stool but it wasn't working out for my two-year-old. The Kid Kraft two-step stool made all the difference for all of us.
Drying Towel
I made the towel accessible and fun for my son. Since our bathrooms have towel holders at the adult level and we're not going to install kid-level hooks or bars for a towel (not yet anyway), my solution is to place a towel in the “storage” compartment of the KidKraft stool. You could also provide a small basket with a towel and scrubber.
Target has some adorable kids' towel sets for a very reasonable price. Making the hand towel his or her own has smoothed the process!
Soap
Our hand soap pump was too hard for my son to use, so I went to Target and got a soap pump for his own. Again, Target has charming sets. Trust me. It'll get your child excited about the prospect of washing his hands. He loves to pump his own soap.
Water Faucet Extender
This product is a true gift. While in a perfect world, my son would be able to reach the water on his own, this product is a great way to adapt to your adult environment to help your child to feel more independent and self-sufficient. The first time he used it, my son said, “Mum, I can reach it!” A wonderful moment! Totally worth the $8!
The Poster
Kids are visual learners. We review the steps to washing hands a lot these days. I am going to laminate a hand-washing poster and hang it in the bathroom for his reference.
For now, we're discussing the steps and trying to get the habit in place. There are great free posters on the internet. Here is a cute poster and here and here. I might just end up making my own printable.
Songs
Kids love songs, right? Songs always make everything more fun. Our song is as simple as “It's time to wash our hands now, our hands now, our hands now, its time to wash our hands now, at the sink!”
Also, a song during hand washing time that lasts the time we should be washing (say 20-30 seconds) is always helpful.
Benefits go beyond our kids staying and being healthy, becoming self-sufficient, and gaining confidence, although those goals are paramount. Other benefits include freeing my hands and my energy to do other things and to be a better parent.
Hauling little bodies to the sink and performing the balancing act of getting their hands clean is not a good use of energy. Not fun for anyone. Now our two-year-old enjoys and takes pride in washing up, and I have more energy to enjoy that newfound independence.
Thanks for visiting!
Marnie
“Environment cannot create human power, but only give it scope and material, direct it, or at most but call it forth; and the teacher's task is first to nourish and assist, to watch, encourage, guide, induce, rather than to interfere, prescribe, or restrict.” ~ Maria Montessori