Backed by Starting Blocks
Encouraging good hygiene in services helpschildren develop lifelong positive hygiene habits and reduces the risk of cross-infection between children and adults. We play a large part in not only ensuring we are embedding effective hygiene practices in our services, but also in teaching young children appropriate practices as well.
Why is effective hygiene important?
Infections and illnesses can be spread through direct physical contact between people. They can spread through airbornedroplets from coughing and sneezing or from contact with surfaces and objects.
Have you ever thought about how many people an objects each person in an early childhood education setting comes into contact with? It is through this high degree of physicalcontact that creates a strong possibility of becoming exposed to and spreading infectious illnesses. Can we completely remove all risk? Of course not. However, there are practices that settingscan ensure are embedding within the service to prevent the spread of infections and ensure the spread of illnesses have been reduced.
What can a service do?
Early childhood services should ensure that not only do they have policies and procedures around illnesses and how they will effectively reduce the spread of illnesses and clean the environment, they also need to ensure families and educators are knowledgeable and embedding these practices.
What can educators do?
Educators can ensure that not only to they embed the policies and procedures of the service, but hold others accountable an ensure children are provided opportunities to ongoing practice of healthy
hygiene habits.
It is so important to ensure that children and families are a part of the solution.