Up on the Step

What you need

• soap
• a hand towel

How to do it

1. Put a steady step in front of the sink so your toddler can reach it themselves.
2. Run the water yourself and check it's comfortably warm before their hands go under.
3. Help them wet their hands, then let them have a go at rubbing the soap around.
4. Rinse, and dry their hands together on the towel.

Why it matters

Most of what stops a toddler washing their own hands is that the sink is too high, so a step turns it from something done to them into something they can walk up to.

What they're learning

Getting there themselves

Being able to reach the sink is what makes the whole thing possible without being lifted.

Rubbing hands together

Palms round and round is the movement the whole job is built on.

A steady routine

Same step, same sink, same order. That's how it becomes automatic later on.

What to look for

Watch for them climbing up on their own when you head for the bathroom.

A tip

You set the water temperature, every time. A toddler can't judge a hot tap, so that part stays yours for years yet.

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