Handwashing for kids
How to teach children to wash their hands, when they should do it, and how to make 20 seconds feel short.
When kids should wash their hands
After the bathroom
Every time, including after a diaper change or potty training accident.
Before eating
Meals, snacks and lunch at school. Also before helping in the kitchen.
After playing outside
Dirt, sand and playground equipment carry germs sanitizer can’t get off.
After blowing their nose
Or coughing or sneezing into their hands.
After touching pets
Including pet food, treats, cages and litter.
When they get home
From school, daycare, the park or the store.
How to teach it, by age
Toddlers (2–3)
Do it together. Get a step stool so they can reach the sink, turn the water on for them, and put your hands over theirs. Name each step out loud: “Wet. Soap. Rub rub rub. Rinse. Dry.”
Preschool (3–5)
Let them lead while you watch. Songs work well here: “Happy Birthday” twice, or the ABCs once. Focus on the spots they miss: thumbs, fingertips and backs of hands.
School age (6+)
By now they can do it alone. Explain the why (germs you can’t see) and let them check their work. A timer or a checklist poster by the sink keeps them honest.
Tricks that actually help
- Go first. Kids copy what you do, especially at the sink.
- Make 20 seconds visible. Our 20-second handwashing timer counts down with a real video.
- Hang a checklist. Our free “Scrub for 20 seconds!” poster has boxes for palms, backs, between fingers, thumbs and fingertips.
- Use soap they like. Foam soap and fun pumps make it more appealing. It doesn’t need to be antibacterial.
- Praise the habit, not just clean hands.
CDC says to supervise children under 6 when they use hand sanitizer so they don’t swallow it or get it in their eyes, and to store it up, away and out of sight. Sanitizer is handy on the go, but it doesn’t replace soap and water, especially when hands look dirty.
More in Is hand sanitizer bad for you?
Why it’s worth the effort
CDC reports that handwashing education cuts diarrheal illness by 23–40% and reduces school days missed for stomach illness by 29–57%. For kids, that means fewer sick days for them and for the parents who stay home with them. See more statistics.
Quick questions
What age can kids wash their hands by themselves?
Most children can do it on their own by around age 5 or 6, though younger kids still need a reminder to scrub long enough and get their thumbs and fingertips.
What song should kids sing while washing hands?
CDC suggests humming “Happy Birthday” from beginning to end twice, which takes about 20 seconds. The ABC song once through works too.
Do kids need antibacterial soap?
No. CDC says studies haven’t found any added health benefit from antibacterial soap for everyday use. Plain soap works.
Should kids use warm or cold water?
Either. CDC notes warm and cold water remove the same number of germs, so pick the temperature your child is comfortable with.
Is hand sanitizer safe for toddlers?
Soap and water is best. If you use sanitizer, supervise closely, use a small amount, and make sure it’s rubbed in until dry.