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Montessori Ways to Protect Children from H1N1

Kids can Help Reduce the Spreading of Germs and Viruses

Oct 21, 2009 Jocelyn Scotty

Healthy everyday practices like the ones taught to children in a Montessori classroom can help to prevent the spread of germs and viruses like H1N1.

Many parents are struggling with the decision as to whether or not to have a child receive the H1N1 swine flu vaccination. Convincing arguments on both sides add to more indecision and confusion. Regardless of the decision, healthy everyday practices like the ones demonstrated in a Montessori classroom can help to prevent the spread of germs and viruses like H1N1.

Montessori Hand Washing

Anyone who has never visited a Montessori early childhood classroom is immediately struck by the unique way in which children wash hands. Despite the option to wash hands in a conventional sink, children are instructed to use the “hand washing station.” This activity requires filling and carrying a pitcher with water, pouring without spilling, using a bar of soap to create lather and then emptying and cleaning up the station when finished. The hand washing station is located in a central location within the classroom so that a child is encouraged to watch the activities going on around him as he takes his time to enjoy washing his hands for several minutes.

The Montessori way of washing hands in this manner helps to build a basis for a child’s development of concentration and coordination for later academic learning. By incorporating some novelty into hand washing, a child will become engaged longer with the activity.

The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water for 15-20 seconds in order to prevent the spread of germs. Incorporate a few Montessori ideas at home to help teach a child how to wash hands his well.

Use Bar Soap Instead of Liquid Hand Soap

A young child enjoys the sensory experience of washing his hands with a bar of soap. In order to get a good lather, he will need to rub the bar of soap much longer than liquid soap, thus increasing the chance of meeting the recommended 15-20 second hand washing minimum. Choose an all natural bar of soap with a clean and unperfumed scent.

Sing Happy Birthday While Washing Hands

Nearly every child can sing the Happy Birthday song, which just happens to be around 15-20 seconds long. Teach a child to sing the Happy Birthday song every time he washes hands and be sure to model the same. It is fun to sing and will encourage more hand washing.

How often Should a Child Wash Hands?

Not only should a child wash his hands before eating and after using the bathroom, but be sure to encourage hand washing after touching his mouth, eyes or nose or after any contact with other groups of people at the park, library, school, church, mall, or the grocery store.

Wear Inside Shoes

Have a pair of shoes that are designated as “inside shoes” for a child. This pair of shoes or slippers is never worn outside and is changed into when entering the house. In many Montessori classrooms, children have a pair of inside shoes that are worn only at school. A child upon entering the classroom, independently hangs up his coat and changes from his outside shoes or boots to his inside shoes. This develops a child’s independence and coordination while keeping the classroom floors clean as a working surface for a child’s activities. While nearly every child can remove his shoes, repeated practicing of putting on a pair of inside shoes develops another important skill in a stress free way. By employing inside shoes at home, outside germs on the floors where a child plays will be limited.

Teach a Child how to Sneeze

A respiratory virus like the flu is spread through contact with touching the eyes, nose or mouth. Ideally, a child should always sneeze into a tissue and then immediately throw it away and wash hands. However, a sneeze cannot always be planned, so teach a child to sneeze into the upper crook of the arm, instead of hands, when a tissue is not readily available.

Over 50% of all reported cases of H1N1 have been diagnosed in children under the age of 18. The spread of all germs and viruses can be limited by teaching a child healthy procedures like those demonstrated in Montessori classrooms.

The copyright of the article Montessori Ways to Protect Children from H1N1 in General Medicine is owned by Jocelyn Scotty. Permission to republish Montessori Ways to Protect Children from H1N1 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus