Teach Children about Germ Prevention
Carmen Knight, M.A.T. , Special Education and Early Childhood
With Covid-19 still present and flu season just around the corner, children have questions about how to stay healthy and stay away from germs. Easing the minds of little ones about health issues will help lessen anxiety as they gather with family, friends, teachers, etc. Taking time to educate children who may be a bit fearful during these uncertain times is crucial to helping them feel more comfortable and open to working on skills they need to develop. When approaching serious subjects, like health issues, having a fun activity to ease the tension helps encourage a child's natural urge to learn.
Children love stickers, so why not use them to make germs and sickness seem less scary? Silly germ stickers can be used to help little ones realize there is nothing to be afraid of. Colorful, silly characters or faces will make children giggle as they learn the importance of washing hands, using hand sanitizer and covering mouth and nose before a cough or sneeze. Use a sticker to reward a child when they practice safety measures that stop the spread of germs.
Coloring and activity books will help a child understand what germs are and the importance of handwashing while enjoying the fun of coloring! These books are fun and make germs seem less scary because they show children how to make the bad germs go away. The activities and stories will reduce the fears that a lot of children have right now and give them peace of mind that they are able to help keep themselves and others healthy by washing their hands correctly. Giving children an outlet, like activity/coloring books, keep them distracted from some of the harsh realities of sickness as well. This simple activity will help a child's mental health as well as their physical health.
These books act as double duty for Early interventionists and Occupational Therapists because they can be used to work on developing fine motor skills that are needed to be successful at home and in preschool. Coloring helps children develop hand strength which is vital for so many daily activities like eating, gripping, carrying a lunch box, climbing up a slide, and more.
Coloring also develops creativity and self-expression. Children rarely get to make their own decisions however, during a coloring activity it is easy for them to select their own colors and express their creative side. In this case, their creativity and self-expression allow the child to share the importance of health safety with others.
