Handwashing

Welcome to the handwashing information page

This page will give you and and your child tools and information on handwashing skills. The "Teaching Handwashing Tutorial" video walks you through steps and tools for successful handwashing. Below that are two "Visual Schedules" you and your child can follow for step-by-step information on handwashing (one for automatic faucets and one for faucets where you must turn the water on and off manually). You will also find the Handwashing Song" that is used at school. There is a chart for "Backward Chaining during Handwashing" to help you understand how to use this technique while teaching your child to wash his or her hands (it is also explained in the "Teaching Handwashing Tutorial"). At the end, there is a social story to use with your child. Social stories are short stories that you can read to your child prior to or during an activity to help him or her understand what they are trying to accomplish. When repeated frequently, social stories can help a child learn a routine or new behavior.

Teaching Handwashing Tutorial

Teaching Handwashing Tutorial TTUSD.mp4

Modeling Handwashing

Modeling Handwashing.mp4

Visual Supports and Prompts to Teach Handwashing

Visual schedules can be printed out and placed near the sink to help your child learn handwashing. Choose the visual schedule that shows the type of faucet you use at home (manual or automatic faucet). The Handwashing Song can be sung while handwashing to help your child remember the steps and wash for the right amount of time.

Handwashing Visual Schedule

Automatic On-Off Faucet

Click on image, expand by clicking "pop-out" button on top right, and print and post next to the sink.

Handwashing Picture Schedule.pdf

Handwashing Visual Schedule

Manual Turn On-Off Faucet

Click on image, expand by clicking "pop-out" button on top right, and print and post next to the sink.

Handwashing Picture Support With Water On:Off.pdf

How To Get Your Kids To Wash Their Hands

Sticky, a Germ’s StoryThis page provides handy resources to motivate kids to wash their hands. Scroll down for Sticky’s book!

Backward Chaining Visual

Use this chart to teach the steps of handwashing where you do the first few steps and your child does the last one(s). Increase the number of steps your child does at the end of the task until he or she has mastered the whole task. For example, in Round 1, you do all the steps except the last one, where your child dries his hands. Once that is mastered, move to Round 2 and have your child work on the last two steps. Continue the process until he or she can wash hands independently. This process is explained in the "Teaching Handwashing Tutorial".

Handwashing Song - English

Sing to the Tune of Row, Row Your Boat

Click on image, expand by clicking "pop-out" button on top right, and print and post next to the sink for adult reference.

Handwashing Song Red Frame.pdf

Handwashing Song - Spanish

Sing to the Tune of Row, Row Your Boat

Click on image, expand by clicking "pop-out" button on top right, and print and post next to the sink for adult reference.

The Handwashing Song - Spanish

Social Stories to Support Handwashing

Social stories are short stories that you can read to your child prior to or during an activity to help him or her understand what they are trying to accomplish. When repeated frequently, social stories can help a child learn a routine or new behavior.

Social Story to Print Out and Read When Practicing Handwashing

Click on image, expand by clicking "pop-out" button on top right, print, make a booklet and read to your child.

Handwashing - Social Story - Book.pdf

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