Did your kids really wash their hands?

sheknows.com

sheknowsstar By the time they hit 9 or 10 years old, nearly every child has learned how to run the faucet for a few seconds after using the toilet to provide the washing hands sound effect... without them ever actually touching soap or water.

For the kids who don't like to wash their hands (or who do a lousy job at it) here are some ideas for you can make sure they're practicing good hygiene -- without standing there and watching them every time they are in the bathroom!

1) Get a marker or ink pen (water based -- not permanent or dry-erase, and not a ballpoint) and draw some lines across your child's fingers and palm. Tell them they need to wash those off. (Also remind them each time to use water and soap.)

2) Use only white hand towels in the children's bathroom. This way you can monitor how much dirt and grime is being wiped away, not washed away. (White towels are also surprisingly easy to keep clean, since you don't have to worry about fading colors.) To keep their hands clean once they're washed, launder the towel frequently, or instead use disposable paper towels.

3) Keep moistened towelette packets in the car and in your purse for a quickie clean anytime -- especially when one of your kids left the house and "forgot" to wash hands.