Now more than ever we realize the importance of washing our hands. Amplifying Doc McStuffins themes of health and wellness, “The Doc Is In,” a special featuring the beloved animated icon interacting with real kids, families and medical professionals about healthy habits, premieres Fri., Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Junior. The special coincides with National Handwashing Awareness Week.
Set to some of the series’ iconic songs, the special includes real medical professionals Dr. Myiesha Taylor, MD, founder of the Artemis Medical Society and the “We Are Doc McStuffins” movement, and Mark Lee, RN, who provides tips to preschoolers about ways to prevent spreading germs.
Disney Junior and Doc McStuffins also recently joined forces with the World Health Organization to amplify the message of thorough hand washing as a way to prevent the spread of germs and disease with a PSA, which was released on Global Handwashing Day (Oct. 15).
The series has also inspired a new addition to its award winning retail line with the Doc McStuffins “Wash Your Hands” Singing Doll from Just Play. Nominated for The Toy Association’s 2021 “Toy of the Year Awards,” the doll comes with an interactive stethoscope, facemask, doctor’s bag, thermometer and otoscope, and sings the popular “Wash Your Hands” song from the series. Coinciding with the doll’s launch, Disney Junior and Just Play will donate funds to Feeding America, which will provide two million meals to families across the country.
Whether you’re prepping for a night of socially distanced trick or treating or just want to embrace the Halloween season, new Crayola masks from SchoolMaskPack have you covered––literally.
The duo has released two limited edition Halloween mask packs for kids and adults that are the perfect amount of spooky and make for a great option if you want to forgo a costume. The packs come with five masks each and a bag for washing.
With a mask for each day of the school week, your kiddos will look forward to strapping on one of these adjustable face coverings. Each mask is made of dual-layer fabric with a 3D design, is machine washable and comes with a name tag.
It seems clear that masks will play an important role in how we all navigate public spaces safely again. When we can’t be sure that our kids will be able to keep six feet away from people outside the family, masks can help keep them safe. They also provide us with a feeling that we are more secure when we have them on—as if a piece of our shelter-in-place cocoon stays with us as we venture out into the world.
That said, masks can be challenging. They look strange, even scary to kids. Many kids do not like to have their face touched at all, never mind by an irksome mask. This is especially true for kids whose sensory systems are extra sensitive to touch.
But, kids can make friends with masks. Humans are wired to prefer that which is familiar to us, but kids are much better than we are at accepting new things. That in mind, we can introduce masks in ways that help masks become a normal and even fun part of life. Here are a few simple steps that can make masks work for kids:
Babies and toddlers do not need masks. The CDC does not recommend masks for children under 2 or for anyone with difficulty breathing, so it is OK not to worry about cajoling your toddler into their mask.
Make sure kids can take off their masks. Kids older than 2 should be able to take a mask off, but that requires that you provide a mask that is easy for kids to take off. Masks that tie in the back, for example, may provide too much challenge for kids, where a mask that tucks around the ears is easier for kids to remove if needed.
Make sure masks are comfortable. In a rush, we whipped together poorly sized masks made from particularly scratchy bandanas, safety pins, and hair ties—a bad move. It took much convincing to get our 5-year old to even try a new mask after that. Lesson learned. To the extent you can, make sure your child’s mask is soft, properly sized, and easy on the ears.
Pick fun masks. If you can, pick masks made in colors or patterns that your kids like. The masks will be less scary—even fun to look at—in the mirror. Click here for soft and effective kid-sized masks.
Let kids pick their masks. If you have a child who is sensitive to how clothing rests on their skin, and you are able, pick more than one soft mask and welcome your child to pick the mask that they like best. My middle child is really jazzed about this mask he can color in himself. Feeling in control of that selection can make all the difference to kids. Plus, all kids will be more likely to wear their mask if they feel it reflects them!
Practice at home. Identify times during the day here and there for the family to wear masks at home. Keep the time short and sweet at first, then make it longer each time. Kids will build their stamina every time you practice, and they can get used to wearing their masks and to seeing you wear yours.
Sing silly songs in your mask and giggle at how funny they sound. An impromptu dance party to a favorite song can also work wonders. Take photos and send them to loved ones, or have a family video call in masks. These simple moments help them associate masks with positive and joyful feelings.
While we’re at it, mask practice can help us reinforce the rules.
When you are working on normalizing masks, you can also reinforce good practices by modeling them and explaining them to kids in gentle ways. A few examples:
Per the CDC, you should wash your hands before and after you put on a mask, why not add “washing our hands” as a step. It can’t hurt to reinforce hand washing!.
Experts also recommend not touching our masks, once we’re out and about. I’ve told my kids to get their mask comfortable, then don’t touch it again. Mom or Dad can take it off for you.
For the grown-ups in your kids’ lives, remember that the CDC also recommends that we wash masks after we have used them in public. If you don’t have a washing machine at home, really hot water and soap should do the trick.
Need help finding masks for kids?
People Magazine has sizable lists with a range of mask types for kids along with this 60 plus-comprehensive list of face masks. You can also search for “organic kids mask” and find sustainable masks, too. Want to make your own? Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has a pretty simple tutorial, and Jennifer Maker’s mask includes an optional filter pocket, too.
The idea of moving from shelter-in-place to re-open feels like a frightening leap of faith, but just like our kids, we’ll likely feel more ready if we get a chance to make friends with each of these ways to stay safe. And, through the eyes of our kids, we may even have some silly fun in the process!
After 18 years as an educator, curriculum developer and school leader, Meghan has her dream gig—an entrepreneur/educator/mom who helps families everywhere, including hers, learn outside. Today, Meghan serves as co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of Tinkergarten, the national leader in outdoor play-based learning.
Do you ever worry that your kids aren’t spending enough time washing their hands or doing a thorough enough job? Especially now, it is important that everyone gets their hands clean.
Color Clean Soap was created by Michael Raymond, during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders after he noticed his children struggling to thoroughly wash their hands.
This patent-pending, one-of-a-kind formula, Color Clean Hand Soap is designed to ensure children and adults fully wash their hands by visibly highlighting unwashed areas. The visual soap is non-staining and scrubs off easily. A delayed, color-fading technology alerts users when they have washed their hands for an adequate amount of time.
Using premium quality, organic ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, essential oils and shea butter, Color Clean Hand Soap is free from sulfates or other harmful chemicals. The color technology is non-toxic and uses FDA food grade colorants to ensure maximum safety.
With three varieties to choose from, Blue Citrus, Green Grapefruit and Ruby Red, children and adults can pick their favorite variety to keep their hands clean.
Are you happy? The question is innocent enough. My four-year-old who is running around the house with his plastic sword in case we get attacked by Princess Robots (yeah, don’t ask) stops dead in his tracks to ask me.
I’m always happy when I’m with you, I instinctively reply. The truth, the truth, I’ll always tell him the truth, I think to myself as I justify the obfuscation by rationalizing that I am indeed always happy in his presence. But this prescient, empathic, stubborn-persistent little boy follows up: Are you happy when you’re sad? I smile. Caught.
In the moment’s melancholy and awed by his ability to read me, I answer: Yes. I’m thinking of your Abuelo. And I’m happy and sad. Content that he got the answer he knew was right, he moved back to the Princess Robots. An Abuelo he’s never met. An Abuelo who would revel in his prescient, persistent precociousness. An Abuelo who doesn’t know he exists.
The earliest memory I have of my Father, is of him giving me 15 cents (I am that old) to go to the corner of the strip-mall to buy a colada. For the uninitiated, a colada is a cup, yes a cup, of espresso that is then poured into tiny cups that people do as shots. He would watch me from one end of the strip-mall as I walked to the other end, to make the purchase at the bakery window. Most bakeries in Miami, at least those that aren’t particularly fancy, have take-out windows. I could do this because at six-years-old I was a big-boy. And, I was allowed certain freedoms and responsibilities.
By eight-years-old, I was helping him in the family business; digging in the earth, planting trees, fertilizing plants. But not too much. My brother did most of that work, with rare protest. I was the fancy child even then. I can, however, still recite the mantra he instilled in me: Make the hole bigger than the root ball so that it fits comfortably in the ground; throw some loose dirt at the bottom and around the root ball to make it easier for the roots to spread; don’t pack the dirt too tightly, you’ll just get in the tree’s way; water, fertilize and leave the rest to nature. I still plant trees in the same way. Little did I know then, the old man was also teaching me how to raise a child. But that’s the subject of another essay. Always leave them wanting more.
By age 15, we would get into ferocious arguments about the need to lift the trade embargo against Cuba. I was for lifting, he was against. His heart still freshly bleeding from the wounds of having to leave a country he loved; even though it had been almost 30 years by then. Of course, during that time, my Father knew nothing, and I knew everything. Still, I marveled in awe with how he could recall with precision his exploits in Cuba and Venezuela, at first selling fruit on the streets with my Mother to eke out a living in support my brother and sister, long before I was born. Then later, owning businesses that were acclaimed by heads of state. I still wish I had told him then how much I loved his stories.
In my early 20s the distance grew between us—physical distance; as I left that godforsaken city and traveled to Washington, D.C. to study. I made the begrudging weekly phone calls. And I remember one in particular. I was on the verge of quitting law school: emotionally wrecked, overwhelmed, and anxious as all. Yet, using every ounce of skill he had as the finest negotiator in the world, he talked me off the edge of the cliff. Not too bad for a guy who never got past the sixth grade. This time, he recalled with great joy my great exploits, and how proud he was of me. He drew on examples of things I had long since forgotten or thought trivial; yet, in his fatherly eyes were luminous.
In my 30s our relationship hit its emotional stride. My Father knew everything, and he acknowledged I knew some things. In his 70s he was funny, uncensored, irreverent, and sharp-as-a-tack. He would go toe-to-toe with me, and with my husband quip for quip. He would regale us with stories of things that happened when I was a child; of his adventures with my mother; of my siblings. We traveled the world together. But we did notice his short-term memory started to fail.
One Thanksgiving, while staying at my sister’s house for a week, I noticed my Dad had been washing his underwear daily in the sink. I checked his suitcase, sure enough, his then-wife had packed him enough underwear for the entire stay. I asked him why he was washing his underwear. I need clean underwear, he answered.
At 93 Dad remembers nothing. The deterioration was slow. And painful. And excruciating to watch. And the memories that are locked inside that, yes, beautiful mind are inaccessible.
My son does not know his Abuelo. I will regale him with stories that are locked in my mind, for as long as I am able. Stories about that prescient, empathic, stubborn-persistent man that he will never meet; a man that he would revel in. A man that in his youth, as a prescient, persistent precocious child, worked the sugar cane fields to support his family. A man that talked me off many a ledge. A man that raised his own brothers. A man that knew to give a root ball space. A man that was happy, even when he was sad.
And even though I am a more imitation than original, he will still hear his voice. And together they will fight the Princess Robots.
Father, children's book critic, writer, judge, director, actor and amature photographer—together with his husband of 25 years—raising an energetic four-year old! "Parent is not just a noun, it's a verb. If you're ever in doubt as to what to do, substitute the word caregiver. It will steer you in the right direction."
If you are looking for creative ways to get your kids to wash their hands, then Dwayne Johnson has some inspiration for you. Just sing a verse from their favorite song and get them scrubbing. Johnson’s kids have the added bonus that their dad can easily break into his rap piece from “You’re Welcome” from Moana.
“Our sheltering at home, pre daddy’s shower ritual,” Johnson captioned the sweet video “Before my showers now, Baby Tia (mama mia) demands I sing the rap portion of my song ‘You’re Welcome’ from Moana, while I wash her hands. We realized a few weeks ago that the rap portion of the song is perfect timing when getting your little ones to have fun washing their hands. Stay healthy and safe, my friends.”
This video is like a Disney dream come true. Johnson ends his post with, “And gotta love how at the start of this vid, baby Tia is like, ‘just shut your mouth and sing daddy.'”
We all know the importance of hand washing. Now with the coronavirus outbreak, one of the simplest ways to keep yourself healthy and safe is by washing your hands. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend after using the bathroom, touching your face or sneezing and before preparing or eating food you should scrub your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
What if you get tired of hearing the birthday song sung over and over countless times a day? Mix it up a little and have your little ones sing something new. Most of these songs require around two to three verses to get to 20 seconds.
“Baby Shark”
“Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
“Wheels on the Bus”
“Frere Jacques”
“Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush”
Now, if you are looking to bring some fun to your hand washing routine (or you want to introduce your kids to some new songs) you can try singing the choruses of the following tunes.
“Love on Top” by Beyoncé
“Truth Hurts” by Lizzo
“Raspberry Beret” by Prince
“Jolene” by Dolly Parton
“No Scrubs” by TLC
There’s even a new website, Wash Your Lyrics, that generates a hand-washing infographic for the song of your choice.
Over the past few days, parents, teachers and celebrities are coming up with hacks and catchy songs to get kids washing their hands. Washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water is the number one recommended way to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. On her Instagram, Kristen Bell shared how the “pepper trick” can show kids the importance of hand washing.
A post shared by kristen bell (@kristenanniebell) on
Bell captioned her post, “Such an amazing way to teach kids (and the rest of us adults) the importance of washing our hands.” She also implored parents to tag someone else in order to get the message to as many parents as possible.
The video originates from preschool teacher, Amanda Lorenzo. In the video, Lorenzo has one of her students dip their fingertip into a bowl of water containing pepper (the virus) and the pepper does not move and instead clings to the child’s finger. Next, she has the child dip their finger into a bowl filled with liquid soap before putting their finger into the pepper filled water. This time, the pepper in the water moves far away from the soapy finger.
In her eight years of teaching, Shauna Woods has seen her share of illnesses run through her classroom. During this time of year, it’s typical for her to experience a higher number of absences due to illnesses. Knowing how detrimental it can be to miss a number of consecutive days, Woods came up with a plan to teach her class the proper way to wash their hands.
“I began to think of something that I could put on their hands that they would have to wash off,” said Woods, who teaches at Hallsville Public School in Hallsville, Missouri. “On a Monday morning, I saw my ‘Mrs. Woods’ stamp sitting there and I told my students to wash their hands in the classroom sink and then see Mrs. Woods for a stamp.”
In a now viral Facebook post, Woods explains that the goal was to keep away germs. Each student received a stamp in the morning and if it had been washed away by the end of the day, they would receive a prize.
“We are doing our best in room 550 to keep the germs away,” Woods wrote in her post. “We are trying.”
Now that this idea has exploded, the students have recently been challenged to wash off their stamps so that a local radio station could come join our classroom for the day. They have accepted the challenge and can’t wait to have guests in our classroom.
Once Woods set clear expectations with her class the students have asked for a stamp each day.
“We discussed how to properly wash their hands and I told them they would earn a prize if their stamp was faded or disappeared altogether,” said Woods. “Day one was training day, as students were motivated to wash that stamp off or rub it off right away. Once we set clear expectations, students have asked for a stamp every day and know how to properly wash their hands. We’ve started a trend for the school and now, after going viral, the nation.”
Woods even stamps her own hand each morning. She says that even as an adult seeing the stamp on her own hand has been a visual reminder to wash her hands more frequently to stay healthy and germ free.
The class never thought this challenge would go viral. Woods says, “Our cups are full knowing that just maybe we’ve helped keep a few more students safe and healthy during this season.”
Before you had your first child, you probably swore to yourself that you wouldn’t be one of those families who allows toys to take over your house. However, between holiday and birthday gifts from friends, family, grandparents, and others, your child has received an abundance of toys. In this barrage of items, they undoubtedly received many electronic toys in the mix. You may wonder if these electronic toys offer any added benefits than the traditional baby toys or books that kids typically receive. This is a common question in the world of child development and parenting.
Luckily, some new research is enlightening us on the topic of traditional versus electronic baby toys. This study from Northern Arizona University looked at the following:
26 child-parent pairs
children were ages 10-16 months old
the authors compared three types of toys: (1) electronic (e.g., baby laptop); (2) traditional baby toy (e.g., blocks or sorting toy); (3) board books
The researchers fitted the families’ homes with audio recording equipment to monitor how language changed as they interacted with each of the toys.
The results showed some interesting findings: When playing with electronic toys there were fewer adult words, fewer back-and-forth conversations between parent and child and fewer parent responses to the child. As compared to playing with books, children alsovocalized less when playing with electronic toys.
When comparing playing with traditional baby toys versus books, it was also found that parents used fewer words with traditional toys than books.
So are Electronic Toys Bad for Babies?
Okay, so why is this important? Is it really important how much a parent talks to their child during play with toys? Not surprisingly, the clear answer is “yes.” The language interaction between children and parents (especially infants on the cusp of learning language) is crucial not only to language development but social skills and interpersonal interaction.
Electronic toys, however, are pretty much ubiquitous. Young children are very attracted to them. So what is a parent to do? Electronic toys can be helpful if used sparingly. We all need a few minutes to do dishes or cook a meal and these toys can be good distractions for a few minutes. It’s good, however, to keep in mind that you as a parent are the best “toy” for your infant. Talking to him/her over toys and books is the best way for her/him to learn language and interaction skills.
Most infants do not have the attention span to listen to a book for long but if you get in the habit of doing dialogic reading, or as I call it, “dialogic living” then the ongoing flow of words just comes naturally. This simply means narrating to your child what you are doing as you go about your daily routine—you can describe how you work the washing machine or how you cook an egg. This “dialogic living” is great entertainment for your infant and makes things more fun for you too.
Amy is a scholar turned stay-at-home mom of two young boys. When she's not stepping on Legos, she writes at The Thoughtful Parent. With this blog she brings child development research into the lives of parents in the trenches of child-rearing.