So, you’ve been hearing it over and over, and we can also see in this KIDS Herald edition of “Exploring Health with Bamba” just how important it is to wash our hands properly. We know that you already know that. It has always been important, but these days with the whole world facing a new virus, it’s more important than ever.
We’ve got the perfect, catchy song that you can use to remember to wash your hands for the right amount of time, and everyone will know how to sing along. You can also use the song to teach your younger brothers and sisters how to develop the good habit as well!
First, a recap of a few things that KIDS Herald readers already know: Washing your hands with plain old soap and water is much more effective at cleaning your hands (in general) and at killing the virus that causes COVID-19, compared to hand sanitizer. It doesn’t need to be anti-bacterial soap or any sort of special or expensive soap, either!
Soap works so well because soap molecules have two halves: one loves water, and the other loves fats (like oil and grease). The soap can grab onto the virus’ fatty membrane (its outer coating) and onto the water that you’re washing your hands with. So when you rub your hands together, you are pushing and pulling at the coat, and it gets torn apart!
Even if you don’t get to break apart all of the bonds, the soap will lift away the rest and wash it down the drain. Of course that means you have to make sure you wash every part of your hands, like the fingertips and thumbs which we can easily forget, and you need to wash for at least 20 seconds so that the soap has a good chance to do its job.
That’s where having a nice song comes in. To make a good habit of washing for at least 20 seconds (30 isn’t a bad idea, either), you can pick a song you like and sing it in order to time yourself. Two songs that everyone knows are the Happy Birthday song (sing it twice), and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. But we’ve got another one for you! Sing these lyrics to the tune of “If you’re happy and you know it”.
If You’re Happy and You Know It, Scrub Your Hands
If you’re happy and you know it, scrub your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, scrub your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, scrub your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, rinse them off.
If you’re happy and you know it, rinse them off.
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, rinse them off.
CHA CHA CHA!
