How do I teach good habits and hygiene to pre-primary children?
Teach good habits and hygiene through daily routines, songs, modelling and praise: hand-washing before eating and after the toilet (with soap for about 20 seconds), covering coughs, tidying up, drinking water, saying please and thank you, and waiting for turns. Use picture charts, role play and stories, and practise until routines become automatic.
What this means in practice
WHO promotes hand hygiene as one of the most effective ways to prevent infections.
Routines to teach
- Hand-washing steps with a song
- Toilet routine
- Tidy-up time
- Healthy snack time
- Polite words and greetings
Making habits stick
Be consistent, praise effort, use visual reminders and involve parents.
Making hygiene fun
Use songs, stories, role play and visual charts. A 'germs' activity, where glitter on hands spreads to everything touched, shows why hand-washing matters. Let children take turns as 'hygiene helpers' who remind classmates. Praise effort, keep routines consistent, and model habits yourself. Habits form through daily repetition in a positive atmosphere.
Practical next steps
- Put a hand-washing chart at the sink.
- Teach a 20-second song.
- Model the habit yourself.
- Praise specific actions.
Common follow-up questions
How long should children wash hands?
About 20 seconds with soap and water.
At what age can children wash hands alone?
Most can by 3 to 4 with reminders.
Sources
Course facts from APTTI's published course pages, checked 10 October 2026. Editorial policy.