Wash the Spot Off

What you need

• a dab of washable paint
• soap
• a towel

How to do it

1. Dab a spot of washable paint on the back of each of their hands.
2. Send them to the sink to get the spots off.
3. Help them notice the spots need rubbing, not just water.
4. Check together when they're gone: backs, palms, in between.

Why it matters

A toddler can't see the reason for washing their hands, so putting something on them that visibly has to come off turns rubbing into a job with an obvious finish.

What they're learning

Rubbing to a finish

A mark that disappears gives them a reason to keep going and a way to know they're done.

The bits they'd miss

A spot in an awkward place gets the backs and between the fingers done properly.

Checking their work

Looking to see whether it's gone is the start of doing a job properly rather than quickly.

What to look for

Watch for them turning their hand over to look for spots they've missed.

A tip

Use washable paint and keep it to the backs of hands, away from faces. Everything comes off with soap and warm water.

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