The average kids comes in contact with a lot of germs each day. Whether they’re sharing toys with other kids at the playground, doing a messy art project during day care or grabbing the dirty handrail as they board the school bus, children often seem like a magnet for dirt, grime and bacteria. Luckily, there’s a way to help prevent all of that yucky stuff from actually making them sick: teaching kids how to wash their hands.
Hand-washing is a simple skill that makes a big impact when it comes to preventing illnesses, especially during cold and flu season. In the general population, hand-washing can reduce respiratory illnesses by 16-21%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“It’s not necessary to continuously scrub children over the whole day — hey, we’d never be done,” says Dr. Jack Maypole, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center and member of the educational advisory board at the Goddard School. “However, there are occasions when washing hands is a particularly good idea, given the increased likelihood they might have unseen germs riding on those palms and fingers.”
One easy way to teach this important skill is by teaching kids to sing a hand-washing song. Simple songs can help kids remember the step-by-step process for washing their hands, as well as how long it actually takes to get clean. Here’s what parents and caregivers need to know about how to properly clean kids’ hands, as well as some of the catchiest and most helpful hand-washing songs for kids to get the job done.
Easy and fun hand-washing songs for kids
It’s not always easy to get kids excited about washing their hands — or to encourage them to keep washing for more than .03 seconds. That’s where hand-washing songs come into play. These lighthearted tunes will keep them scrubbing happily and thoroughly for the full 20 seconds required to kill those pesky germs.
1. “Happy Hand-washing Song” by CDC
This nursery rhyme-style hand-washing song by the CDC is sung to the tune of “Happy Birthday,” so it will be easy for kids to memorize. If you sing it all the way through twice, it lasts about 30 seconds, which is just slightly longer than the necessary amount of time for hand washing to be effective.
2. “Baby Shark Dance” (hand-washing version) by Pink Fong
If you’ve spent even a nanosecond around kids, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the mega-viral song “Baby Shark Dance” by Pink Fong. While it’s not an official version, many parents have co-opted the catchy tune into a hand-washing song for preschoolers that’s impossible to stop singing. Simply sing along to the tune of “Baby Shark”, but change the words to the following:
Wash your hands
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Grab some soap
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Rub your hands
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Rinse your hands
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Dry them off
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Repeat each verse four times, just like they do in the original “Baby Shark” song. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself still humming this one even after kids’ hands are clean.
3. “The Hand-washing Song” by Super Simple Songs
Kids who need a little extra help remembering exactly how to wash their hands will love this step-by-step hand-washing song by Super Simple Tunes. It even reminds them to scrub in between their fingers and on the tops of their hands, so they won’t miss a single spot.
4. “Look How Clean My Two Hands Are” by ADHS
Nursery rhymes make a great starting point for DIY hand-washing songs, as evidenced by this alternate version of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” shared by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS):
“Twinkle, twinkle little star
Look how clean my two hands are
With soap and water, wash and scrub
Got those germs off, rub-a-dub-dub
Twinkle, twinkle little star
Look how clean my two hands are.”
All kids need to do is sing the new words to the old, familiar tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Repeat the whole song twice to ensure they’re washing long enough.
5. “Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands” by ADHS
If “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” isn’t a hit, why not try a hygiene-friendly version of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat?” This is another suggestion by the ADHS that incorporates instructions for washing your hands in a way that’s super simple for young kids to remember. Check it out:
“Wash, wash, wash your hands
While you sing this song
Rub and scrub, rub and scrub
The germs swirl down the drain
Scrub, scrub, scrub your hands
While you sing this song
Rub and scrub, rub and scrub
The germs swirl down the drain.”
The two verses take roughly 20 seconds to sing, so kids will come away with germ-free hands. Plus, singing along to a familiar tune ensures they’ll have no trouble incorporating this new step in their routine.
6. “I’m A Hand-washer” by Jack Hartmann Kids’ Music Channel
A pop song about hand-washing? That’s right! Kids will love dancing and singing along to this catchy hand-washing song by kid-friendly musician Jack Hartmann. Not only does it follow the CDC guidance for proper washing technique, but it also makes washing your hands seem extra cool.
7. “Scrub Your Palms” by Dr. Nisha Thampi
Ottawa infectious disease physician Dr. Nisha Thampi penned this unique version of the classic song “Frère Jacques” (also known as “Brother John”). Simply use the tune of the original songs, but add these lyrics by Thampi:
“Scrub your hands
Between the fingers
Wash the back, wash the back
Twirl the tips around
Scrub them upside down
Thumb attack, thumb attack.”
Sing two rounds of the song, and don’t forget to scrub the skin between your thumbs and fingers during the thumb attack!
8. “How to Wash Your Hands” by NHS
The U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) decided to let a hand do the talking when they created this simple song called “How To Wash Your Hands.” The video features a singing hand with a face drawn on it, and it walks kids through cleaning each part of their hands quickly and easily.
9. “If You’re Happy And You Know It”
Most people grew up hearing the classic song “If You’re Happy And You Know It.” It’s likely your kids have been singing it for years. But, you may not have realized before that it it really easy to turn it into a hand-washing song. All you have to do is cut the “you know it” in the verse and change it to “wash your hands.” Here’s how it goes:
“If you’re happy and you know it, wash your hands
If you’re happy and you know it, wash your hands
If you’re happy and you know it
And you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it, wash your hands.”
While this song doesn’t include instructions for washing, it does hit the 20-second mark if you swing it twice. You can even try other lyrics, like: “If you’re messy and you know it, wash your hands.”
10. “Wash Your Hands” by The Wiggles
Popular kids’ entertainers The Wiggles teamed up with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to create this catchy hand-cleaning song that reminds kids of all the most important times to get clean. “Before you eat food, after you play with animals and after you use the toilet,” the group sings, before launching into a fun and instructional bop.
Which popular songs can be used for hand-washing?
If the above songs don’t catch on with the kids in your life, there are a number of traditional children’s songs and pop song choruses that can also help kids hit the 20-second cleaning mark. The following nursery rhymes all fit the bill if you sing them through two times:
- “The Alphabet Song.”
- “Mary Had A Little Lamb.”
- “The Wheels On The Bus.”
- “Happy Birthday.”
- “Three Blind Mice.”
- “Hey, Diddle, Diddle.”
If you have older kids or just want a more contemporary hand-washing soundtrack, Scripps and the Los Angeles Times suggest singing the choruses of the following hits:
- “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson.
- “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift.
- “Bye, Bye, Bye” by NSYNC.
- “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield.
- “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys.
- “Let It Go” (from Disney’s “Frozen”) by Idina Menzel.
What is the correct way to wash your hands?
In order to teach little kids how to wash their hands, adults need to know the proper procedure first. According to the CDC, it’s important to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to remove harmful germs. For proper hand-washing technique, they recommend the following steps:
- Wet hands with clean, running water.
- Apply soap and work into a lather.
- Scrub palms, backs of hands, between fingers and under fingernails for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse until clean.
- Dry hands completely using a clean towel or air dryer.
To help conserve water, the CDC also suggests turning off the water while scrubbing your hands. When it’s time to rinse, you can use an elbow or wrist to turn the faucet back on.
If your hands get dirty and you don’t have access to soap and water, Maypole says hand sanitizer is a good backup option. “Most commercial brands have at least 60% alcohol. Check the label,” he advises. “They are not as effective as soaps, and they may not remove some chemicals that can be tough to remove without soap.” Lastly, he adds, make sure hand sanitizers are always closed tightly and stored away from young children when not in use to prevent accidental ingestion.
How often should kids wash their hands?
Kids can wash their hands whenever they get dirty, but there are certain times when hand-washing is essential. To kill germs and help prevent the spread of illness, Maypole says kids should always wash their hands:
- After using the bathroom.
- After coughing, sneezing or wiping their nose.
- Following outdoor play.
- After touching animals.
- Before eating.
“Science tells us hand-washing is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs and illness,” Maypole says. “This can keep kids and families healthy if we all follow some basic steps.”
The bottom line
Hand hygiene is one of the most basic ways kids can stay well during cold and flu season and help prevent the spread of illnesses, but it’s important to provide them with the tools to wash their hands the right way.
Young kids can benefit from learning a short hand-washing song that reminds them what steps to take when they’re soaping up, and kids of all ages can use a catchy tune to make sure they’re washing their hands long enough to meet the CDC recommendations. Making hand-washing a standard part of kids’ daily routines can encourage good habits and help them stay healthier all year long.
