All By Myself Wash
What you need
- soap
- a hand towel
- a low step to reach the sink
How to do it
- Before the meal, let them do the whole hand wash themselves while you stand close.
- Only step in if they stop: say just the next bit, like 'now the soap'.
- Wet, soap, rub fronts and backs, rinse, turn the tap off, dry.
- Check together: are the hands clean and dry?
Why it matters
Doing every step without your hands on theirs is a different job from copying you, and the clean hands are all their own work.
What they're learning
- Washing hands
- Every step in order: wet, soap, rub, rinse, dry.
- Doing it themselves
- Their hands, their job, from start to finish.
- Remembering a routine
- Holding a sequence of steps in mind.
What to look for
Notice them turning the tap off on their own before reaching for the towel.
A tip
Set the water temperature yourself first and check it's lukewarm. A sturdy step with a wide base is safer than a stool.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: you turn the taps, they do the rest
Harder: sing a short song while they rub so the soap gets a proper go
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Everyday helper activities · Activities for 2 year olds · Toddler activities with a towel