Health & Safety...For Sickness’ Sake

No one likes talking about germs, but when you have young children, it’s part of the deal. Runny noses happen. Tummy bugs pop up. And while many things that come with sicknesses are out of our control – one thing that we can control is how we can teach children about germs and good daily hygiene habits.  

“In each of our classrooms, we make it a priority to teach children how to care for their bodies,” mentioned Brittani Cherry, Director of Operations at Barrington Schools. "It’s so important they know how to build healthy habits that support their well-being now and the well-being of those around them.” 

How We Teach Healthy Habits 

In our infant classrooms... 

For our littlest learners, health education begins with consistency and trust. Infants learn through observation and experience, so teachers model healthy habits throughout the day. 

These care routines include things like regular handwashing, face wiping, and sanitizing before meals. Teachers also use simple, comforting language such as “all clean” or “bye-bye germs” to help infants begin connecting words with actions. Sensory experiences help infants feel calm and comfortable during daily hygiene routines, while songs and soothing interactions create positive associations with care and cleanliness. 

In our toddler classrooms... 

Parents know all too well just how excited toddlers are to try things on their own. That’s why we make it a best practice to introduce hygiene routines in fun, engaging ways that encourage independence.  

“At this age, we start showing children how to do things like wipe their noses, throw their tissues away, and wash their hands afterwards,” explained Brittani. “We use a lot of songs and cause-and-effect language, like “soap washes germs away” to help children understand why these habits matter.” 

We also know that play is an important part of learning at this age, so we utilize role play with dolls or stuffed animals as a way for toddlers to practice caring for others, reinforcing healthy routines in a way that they enjoy. As their awareness grows, toddlers also begin learning how to cover coughs and sneezes and begin recognizing when it is time to wash their hands throughout the day. 

In our preschool and pre-k classrooms... 

As children grow, so does their understanding of germs and how to keep them at bay. At this age, our teachers have started to use books, discussions and hands-on activities to introduce basic concepts about germs and staying healthy. Classroom visuals and charts are also used to help reinforce daily routines, and experiments can help demonstrate how soap works, so children can see the impact of healthy habits in action.   

“In our preschool and pre-k classrooms, we might have kids make posters about germs and staying healthy,” explained Brittani. “Any sort of creative project can help give children a sense of ownership over what they’ve learned.”  

Our teachers may also use creative projects, like making posters about germs and staying healthy, to give kids a sense of ownership over what they’ve learned. Ultimately, this is a time when children begin to show some independence, and we strive to help them recognize that their choices, like covering their mouth when they cough, can positively impact the whole classroom.  

Building Healthy Habits Early 

A clean, healthy school environment doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of daily routines, gentle guidance, and hands-on learning. 

If you’d like to learn more about how we care for children every day, from health and safety to learning and nutrition, we’d love to show you around. Schedule a tour and see what makes our classrooms such a special place to grow. 

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