Hand Washing

Hand washing is the most effective way to keep your kids from getting sick and sharing those icky germs with their friends and siblings, right. But are your kids doing it correctly? The CDC recommends washing your hands in the a specific way and at specific times.

When washing hands with soap and water:

• Wet your hands with clean, warm running water
• Apply soap.
• Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
• Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" or the "ABCs" twice.
• Rinse hands well under running water
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.

When should you wash your hands?

• Before preparing or eating food
• After going to the bathroom
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom
• Before and after tending to someone who is sick
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After handling an animal or animal waste
• After handling garbage
• Before and after treating a cut or wound

All childcare facilities are required to have this information posted above their sink areas. Even babies are required to have their hands washed with soap and water after having their diapers changed.

Choking Hazards

Below is a list of all the foods childcare facilities in the state of Texas are not allowed to serve to children UNDER FOUR because of the high possibility of choking.

•Carrot Sticks or rounds

• Popcorn

• Hot Dogs (Hot dogs can be okay if they are served cut into quarters. That means cut them in half lengthwise, then in half again. Then start chopping them into bite size pieces.)

• Apples

• Whole Grapes

• Marshmallows

• Nuts

• Seeds

• Raw Peas

• Hard Candy

• Hard Pretzels

For babies or small toddlers, food should be cut into pieces 1/4" or smaller. That's pretty little.

Other items that are not allowed in our school or certain classrooms:

Latex balloons (If these balloons pop, a small child may (read: will) put a piece in their mouth. The material can very easily get trapped in the throat and block air flow. If using them for decorations, keep them out of reach of kids under three.)

Any toy that does not meet the choking hazard tube test. These can be purchased at numerous online stores. Basically, it's a tube the size of a small child's throat. If an item can fit inside the tube, it should be kept out of reach of any kiddo who still likes to taste test his toys.

While you may say "Really?" to some of these items, I encourage you to think about the pros vs. cons of serving these foods to your little ones. If they made the list, it is because enough kiddos choked on them. It may be inconvenient to cut up food into smaller pieces, but it only takes a second for a piece of food to go down a child's throat the wrong way. The results are catastrophic. Is it worth it?