The Handwashing Challenge

Did you know that there are over 200 different viruses that cause the common cold? Did you know that children put their hands in their mouths every 2 or 3 minutes? Did you know that frequent hand washing can reduce school absences for students and teachers by up to 50%? During the COVID-19 pandemic, washing your hands was important to reduce the spread of the disease and helped protected you and your family. But we should continue those good habits everyday!

These surprising statistics and others are the reason that the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association (CCSPA) developed the following resources to help teachers explain the importance of regular hand washing to children in grades one through six. The program is called The Handwashing Challenge because students should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds to get rid of germs and bacteria.

The Handwashing Challenge includes the following useful resources for teachers:

• A handout about why “Germs are Gross” and “How to Wash your Hands (the Right Way)”
• A handwashing sticker activity sheet for kids

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact CCSPA.

The information above was compiled by the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products. This information is not copyrighted. It is for educational purposes only.