It’s hard to keep kids from getting a little dirty and grimy. After all, that’s part of the fun of being a kid! But during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever for kids to learn the basics of hygiene, handwashing, and social distancing. They might not be at high risk, but their teachers, parents, and grandparents are.
The virus has been spreading long enough that kids and adults alike are getting a bit lax on pandemic safety.
But with a few tricks, things like handwashing and mask-wearing can actually be fun for kids. The activities on this list make for great indoor fun for families, and they’ll keep you and your little ones safe from infection this flu season!
Practice Handwashing with Fingerpaint
Kids have been dying to get dirty all summer, but most have been forced to stay inside. Why not give them the chance to get a little sticky while teaching proper handwashing? For this activity, all you need is a little fingerpaint and your own two hands. The goal is to show kids how much of their hands are getting clean when they scrub with soap. Start by adding a soap-sized dollop of paint to one hand. Then, tell your kids to make believe they are washing their hands for 20 seconds. After, look and see what parts of their hands are not covered in paint. Make sure they understand that if their entire hands aren’t covered, including in between their fingers and near their wrists, then they lose the game. Have them wash up and try again. When they get it right, have a reward ready! Before moving on to some other fun fingerpainting activities, tell them they need to scrub the same way with soap every time they wash their hands. Building this connection will help kids to wash their hands more thoroughly and for longer. Cleaner hands? A safer home? A fun afternoon with the family? What’s not to love!
Learn the Corona Song
Vietnam made waves early in the pandemic for a super catchy pop song that circulated on radio and social media. This pop song was all about how to wash your hands, stay safe, and stay positive during the COVID-19 outbreak. The song was so popular that it exploded worldwide, and now there’s an English version too. This song is an absolute jammer, and if it’s catchy for adults, you know kids will love it. Check it out here in English, but be warned: it will be stuck in your head all day! The music video couldn’t be more perfect for kids. It’s a fun cartoon, it explains the virus in simple terms, and it includes a fun dance that incorporates proper handwashing techniques. In a way, it teaches kids how to deal with the pandemic so you don’t have to! If your kids like to play dance or karaoke games or are just addicted to YouTube, it will be really easy to slip this into their playlist. Then, you can play it from time to time and get the kids to sing along. The best type of learning happens when you’re not even trying, and this song is a great way to do that.
Fun with Masks
Kids love wearing masks and costumes all year round. Pretending and being silly is a daily dose of fun. But, only if it’s on their terms. To get your little ones to wear a mask right, it has to be fun, fantastic, and a little silly. Or else, they’ll get bored of it after 5 minutes. One way to do this is by buying fun masks decorated with their favorite animals or characters. But one mask won’t do. You should buy at least 7 different masks so each day feels like a new adventure. This adheres to cloth mask guidelines too. Cloth masks should be washed after each use—kind of like underwear—so buy enough for fun and cleanliness.
For other kids, wearing an Iron Man or Hello Kitty mask might not be enough of an incentive. For them, you’ll have to get a little more creative. For boys, you can tell them they’re playing ninjas, and that true ninjas cover their mouths and noses at all times. For girls, you can pretend to be princesses that need to cover your faces with a face veil. These pictures of Disney Princesses wearing masks are a huge help! If you’ve thought of any other creative ways to get your kids to mask up, make sure to let us know in the comments!
Bonus Tip for Moms: Stop Scrubbing and Clean with Allume
Teaching your kids to stay clean and safe during the pandemic can be a chore. But not nearly as much as managing pandemic anxiety and scrubbing the house from top to bottom. Luckily, there’s a new tool that makes both a lot easier. It’s called Allume, and it disinfects with UV light. That means no more toxic chemicals, odors, fumes, or scrubbing. All you have to do is pass the Allume light wand over any surface to kill 99.99% of germs. That includes bacteria, viruses like COVID-19 and the flu, mold, fungus, allergens, and more.
UV light doesn’t pollute and it doesn’t leave behind any residues that can be harmful if ingested by kids or pets. And, it’s so much easier to use than a rag and bucket!
Imagine if you could clean your entire home just by passing a light over your counters, furniture, and appliances? That’s exactly what Allume does, and it’s an absolute lifesaver during the pandemic. Not only does it clean the things that your liquid cleaners can, but it goes a lot further too. It disinfects:
- Packages and mail
- Phones and computers
- Toys and baby products
- Car interiors
- Fresh produce
- Much more
Allume’s convenient folding design and wireless operation allow you to take it on the go too, so you won’t have to worry about picking up germs at the store, on public transport, in public restrooms, or on elevators. UV light disinfectants have been recommended by Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center in the fight against COVID-19, and the CDC has called it one the most promising ways to kill the virus. Do yourself (and your anxiety levels!) a favor and start cleaning smarter with Allume. For a short while longer, you can take 50% off a new Allume wand. Don’t wait!
Have Fun, Learn More, and Stay Safe
Kids learn more when they’re having fun. But so do adults! Don’t forget to take the time each week to refresh your family’s memory of good pandemic hygiene and safety, but remember that a lecture won’t work. The creative ideas on this list are great ways to make pandemic safety fun at home. But there are so many more ways to keep your kids aware and involved. Take a minute to think of their favorite games, hobbies, and movies. How could you turn these into educational activities? We’re sure you’ll think of some great ideas. Don’t forget to share them with us, too!
And when the kids are off to school or bed, get your cleaning done faster and more thoroughly with Allume. The power of UV light is proven to kill COVID-19 without any toxic chemicals, dirty rags, or scrubbing!
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