Teaching kids the importance of handwashing for hygiene and getting them into the habit of washing can be difficult.
This is why Lifebuoy adopts a fun approach to education and behaviour change in its School of 5 Programme, which has reached over 11 million South Africans since 2012.
5 Ways to make handwashing an easy, fun habit for the whole family
1. Track and reward
Lifebuoy School of 5 uses a handwashing diary for moms and kids to track their progress during their 21-day journey. Start your own calendar and add stickers as a reward for each time handwashing is completed.
2. Sing a song
The correct amount of time to wash hands correctly with soap is 20 seconds. Sing the alphabet or Old MacDonald or make up your own healthy handwashing song to sing while washing to track the time and keep kids entertained.
3. High 5's
Incorporate 'high 5s' into the handwashing routine as a fun element. Give a 'high 5' after each successful handwashing experience.
4. Make it easier
Make it easier for kids to reach the basin by adding a stool or step so they can easily reach everything. Create a more fun bathroom environment by adding a fun soap dish or stickers to the mirror.
5. Make it a routine
Many moms find it best to build handwashing into their everyday routine, adding it to a series of regular events, such as hanging up their coat and putting away their schoolbag, so that kids eventually do it automatically.
Lifebuoy is one of the oldest International Brands in the World. Established in 1894 by Lever Brothers, Lifebuoy is one of the Jewels in Unilever’s Crown. Lifebuoy’s 110 year old core positioning is Championing Health and Hygiene.
Lifebuoy’s handwashing with soap intervention programme has helped to save hundreds of lives in South Africa and is striving to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG4) – to reduce child mortality rates by two-thirds by 2015.
