Have fun with handwashing

• Good handwashing is more important than ever.
• Here are some fun and quick activities to help you learn about the why and how of washing your hands.

• Use song, dance and rhymes to show the important steps for washing your hands.
• Perhaps you could make your own homemade video.
• Here's some inspiration from a few Oxfam staff members and volunteers!

• Here's a quick activity to help you learn more about how to wash your hands.
• First, ask an adult to help you sprinkle cocoa powder on your hands. Curry or turmeric powder could be used instead.
• Now have a go at washing off the powder using just water.
• Repeat, but this time try using soap as well.

Germs are a bit like cocoa powder. Although we can't see germs, we still need water, soap and time to get rid of them!

• How long does it take you to wash your hands?
• Try timing yourself or others in your household.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends washing your hands for as long as it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday' twice!

• This simple activity from Dr. Lucy Rogers helps demonstrate the power of soap against viruses.
• All you need is pepper, oil and water.

• Check out this contactless handwashing station in Cox's Bazaar refugee camp in Bangladesh.
• People can use a foot pedal to get water and soap. This means that they don't need to touch a tap with their hands and so avoids spreading bacteria and viruses such as COVID-19.
• Maybe you could design your own handwashing device for use in your school or community.

• Perhaps you could have a go at making your own soap.
• Here’s a link to a blog post with six easy steps to soap-making success.