Why is Hand Washing Important?

Every year, millions of school days are lost due to illness. It is estimated that a great number of these days could be reduced if children washed their hands regularly.

Therefore, it is imperative to educate children on the importance of adopting good hand hygiene practices in order to keep both themselves and others healthy.

Hand washing is important

Recent studies have shown that hand washing is by far the best way to prevent the spread of many illnesses.  Good hand hygiene in children will help to prevent the spread of germs that cause common illnesses, such as colds and tummy bugs, from home to school and back again. 

Therefore, it is essential that a child understands why their hands are important; they help them to eat, play and have fun, as well as learn why it is important to wash their hands:

• Hands carry ‘nasty germs’ called micro-organisms or bacteria
• These can spread when we touch things or can be passed to people

Encouraging children to wash their hands will also help to influence their hand washing practices at home as well as at school.