Handwashing for small children: making it a habit

8 November 2026 · 3 min read

Small children touch everything: the floor, the dog, the railing in the lift, their own mouths. Washing hands with soap is one of the simplest ways to help keep everyone healthy, and it is a habit that is easier to build early.

Why it matters

The WHO and other health bodies recommend handwashing with soap and clean water as a basic way to reduce the spread of germs that cause stomach upsets and many infections. You can read more on who.int and healthychildren.org. You do not need special soap, and plain soap works.

When to wash

Pick a few moments and make them automatic:

before eating (and before tiffin)
after using the toilet or potty. See potty training
after playing outside, in the park or with animals
after coughing or sneezing into hands
when coming home, before touching anything
when hands look dirty, after finger-painting or mud play

The steps, in words a child understands

Wet your hands with clean water.
Soap them well.
Rub palms, backs of the hands, between the fingers, thumbs and fingertips.
Wash for a while. A common tip is to sing a short song, such as "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" or a favourite rhyme, from beginning to end.
Rinse off all the soap.
Dry with a clean towel, or let the hands air dry.

Small children often rush through the rubbing. Singing helps them slow down.

Make it easy for them

A step stool at the basin so they can reach on their own.
Soap they can pump or a bar that is easy to hold.
A child's towel at their height.
A picture of the steps stuck near the basin.
Their own special soap smell or a fun colour, if you like. Never use soap that stings eyes or irritates skin. If a child has skin problems, ask the doctor.

Ways to make it fun

Sing: pick one song that lasts about as long as it should, and use it always.
Make bubbles: show how soap makes lots of foam.
Hunt the germs: pretend the "invisible germs" slide away down the drain. Do not frighten the child. Keep it light and playful.
Sticker chart, if your child likes them. Praise the effort, not just the result.
Wash together. Children copy. Let them see you wash your hands.

If they refuse

Stay calm and avoid a fight. Offer a choice: "Do you want to wash first or sing first?"
Try a different song or a sticker.
Repeat every day, even on busy days. Habits come from repetition, and they come in time.
Check the water is comfortably warm or cool, and the tap is easy to use.

What soap and water cannot do

Washing hands helps, but does not prevent every illness. If your child has a fever, a rash, continued stomach upset or anything that worries you, see your doctor. This article is general information, not medical advice.

Sanitiser

Plain soap and water is best. If you ever use hand sanitiser when away from a sink, keep it out of reach of young children and use it only with an adult.

How Child Runway helps

Child Runway lessons are 2 to 5 minute stories, each with a song and a game, where the child answers, moves and sings along. The Healthy Harbour island (सेहत बंदरगाह) is a good place to find healthy-habit lessons. After each lesson there is something to try at home, and the lessons work offline, so you can use them anywhere.