My 9yo is sick more often than the rest of us, and I suspect it's because she's always touching her mouth with hands infested by all her disgusting classmates.
Also, everything in my house is coated in sticky goo from both my kids. Good for rust prevention, but still annoying to me.
If you are referring to the various viruses which cause the "common cold," then the one advantage of this situation is that she will acquire immunity and be less likely to become ill when exposed to those same viruses later. I have no magic answer to getting kids to wash their hands more often -- it's even a problem in hospitals.
Have you tried explaining this cause-and-effect relationship (hands-to-mouth = get sick) to her? Maybe try framing it as an experiment -- have her wash frequently for a couple of months and see if she gets sick less frequently, then let her "fall off the wagon" and see if she gets sick right away ...
Good luck! If you find something which works, I'll be happy to help design and market the best-seller self-help book ... ;-)
If you are referring to the various viruses which cause the "common cold," then the one advantage of this situation is that she will acquire immunity and be less likely to become ill when exposed to those same viruses later. I have no magic answer to getting kids to wash their hands more often -- it's even a problem in hospitals.
Have you tried explaining this cause-and-effect relationship (hands-to-mouth = get sick) to her? Maybe try framing it as an experiment -- have her wash frequently for a couple of months and see if she gets sick less frequently, then let her "fall off the wagon" and see if she gets sick right away ...
Good luck! If you find something which works, I'll be happy to help design and market the best-seller self-help book ... ;-)
I've explained the cause/effect too often. It's no use. :-(
You might try some hand sanitizer. its faster to use than washing hands, so she might be more apt to use it.
Hand sanitizer is actually quite ineffective and is mostly just a placebo. It's an illusion and, at best, an incredibly short-term solution for emergencies. Anyone using hand-sanitizer should still be washing their hands within 20 minutes of doing so, actually, or they've really done nothing.
You might try some hand sanitizer. its faster to use than washing hands, so she might be more apt to use it.
Ooh, good idea. At least she might use it when coming home from that germy school. I get home from work four hours after her, and my wife's hands are always coated with candy, so she's not much of a role model.
You might try some hand sanitizer. its faster to use than washing hands, so she might be more apt to use it.
Hand sanitizer is actually quite ineffective and is mostly just a placebo. It's an illusion and, at best, an incredibly short-term solution for emergencies. Anyone using hand-sanitizer should still be washing their hands within 20 minutes of doing so, actually, or they've really done nothing.
I admit I use the 'ew, that's so gross, I know you're too cool to not wash your hands before eating, right?' in a completely incidental kind of way on all the kids of all ages I've had to babysit but then I was the older cousin/aunt who they needed to impress.. parents just can't conjure up that magic :P
Ok, I hate to say this slippy, but there's no easy solution. No quick fix :D Washing hands is, like brushing teeth or other similar things, a habit forming activity. All you can do is be vigilant. You have to take your daughter into the washroom and MAKE her wash her hands after every activity where you feel that it needs to be done. After meals, after bathroom visits, after snacks, after outdoor play, that sort of thing. You have to instill in her a habit of washing hands that becomes second nature.
Good news is, she's still young and it will still be rather easy to instill this habit. You'll also have to be the example for her. Wash your hands with her every time (even if you don't deem it necessary.) Make it into a "thing" you do with her. Turn it into a game. (although not a "who can finish first" game, you don't want to instill lazy or speedy wand washing). Don't offer rewards, however, as that will only turn it into a "thing I do for treats" issue and that's never a good thing.
Ok, I hate to say this slippy, but there's no easy solution. No quick fix :D Washing hands is, like brushing teeth or other similar things, a habit forming activity. All you can do is be vigilant. You have to take your daughter into the washroom and MAKE her wash her hands after every activity where you feel that it needs to be done. After meals, after bathroom visits, after snacks, after outdoor play, that sort of thing. You have to instill in her a habit of washing hands that becomes second nature.
Good news is, she's still young and it will still be rather easy to instill this habit. You'll also have to be the example for her. Wash your hands with her every time (even if you don't deem it necessary.) Make it into a "thing" you do with her. Turn it into a game. (although not a "who can finish first" game, you don't want to instill lazy or speedy wand washing). Don't offer rewards, however, as that will only turn it into a "thing I do for treats" issue and that's never a good thing.
Vigilance. That's all you can do.
I agree with everything except the "Don't offer rewards" part. Actually, training a kid is very similar to training a dog. Repetition, consistency, reward, and punishment. With most kids, the reward or punishment doesn't need to be much. A simple smile or frown will suffice to let them know how you feel. It's most important to start when they are young and be consistent.
Ok, I hate to say this slippy, but there's no easy solution. No quick fix :D Washing hands is, like brushing teeth or other similar things, a habit forming activity. All you can do is be vigilant. You have to take your daughter into the washroom and MAKE her wash her hands after every activity where you feel that it needs to be done. After meals, after bathroom visits, after snacks, after outdoor play, that sort of thing. You have to instill in her a habit of washing hands that becomes second nature.
Good news is, she's still young and it will still be rather easy to instill this habit. You'll also have to be the example for her. Wash your hands with her every time (even if you don't deem it necessary.) Make it into a "thing" you do with her. Turn it into a game. (although not a "who can finish first" game, you don't want to instill lazy or speedy wand washing). Don't offer rewards, however, as that will only turn it into a "thing I do for treats" issue and that's never a good thing.
Vigilance. That's all you can do.
I agree with everything except the "Don't offer rewards" part. Actually, training a kid is very similar to training a dog. Repetition, consistency, reward, and punishment. With most kids, the reward or punishment doesn't need to be much. A simple smile or frown will suffice to let them know how you feel. It's most important to start when they are young and be consistent.
In certain areas, this is true. When trying to form a habit, however, it is not. Being congratulatory and using positive reinforcement as "reward" is a separate concept form giving material reward, however. The former is ALWAYS ok. The latter is only ok in certain circumstances.
