The daily routine in kindergarten is full of movement and discovery: children play, touch everything they can reach and occasionally put objects in their mouths. As a result, their hands frequently come into contact with a wide variety of bacteria and germs. Proper hand washing in daycare facilities is therefore especially important

Contents

1. Small hands, big responsibility
2. Bacteria on children's hands: typical situations in day-to-day kindergarten life
3. Explaining handwashing to children in an age-appropriate way
4. Making handwashing fun: songs, rituals and group experiences
5. Embedding hand hygiene firmly in the kindergarten routine
6. Implementing hygiene education in partnership with parents
7. Tackling bacteria with fun and structure.

Small hands, big responsibility

In the busy day-to-day environment of a kindergarten, children's hands are constantly active: reaching for toys, touching objects on the floor and often putting things into their mouths. This significantly increases the risk of transmitting pathogens. Especially among three- to six-year-olds, who typically have little awareness of hygiene, proper hand hygiene becomes an important protective measure.

The hands are the most significant transmission route for pathogens in childcare facilities and play a central role in the spread of infections. This makes it essential for kindergartens to establish playful routines and fixed processes early on to motivate children to wash their hands regularly. In doing so, facilities protect children's health and ensure a smooth daily routine with fewer illness-related absences.