I set up a hand washing station for Dorothy (20 mos.) earlier this summer. I used her kitchen shelves-seen here before hand washing supplies.
She needed a step stool to be at the right height to reach the bowl. Here is what you need to set up a hand washing station.
- medium sized basin (bowl)
- small pitcher
- water source
- small dish with travel sized soap
- bucket for used water
- hand towel
- apron
Model this for your child
- put on an apron. (not necessary)
- use water dispenser to put water in the pitcher, (some mamas are more comfortable getting the water for their child)
- pour the water into the basin
- using soap, wash hands (love making bubbles!)
- rinse in same water
- dry hands on the towel-rehang towel
- pour water out into the bucket (for us it is the big pot on the floor)
- use towel to dry table, basin floor etc...
This will be messy. Patiently help your child clean up spills. It can be useful to place a towel on the floor for your child to stand on. (less slippery) They might spend a long time with the soap part, repeat parts over and over or lose interest in the middle. This is all okay. Be available but try not to hover. I like to wait until help is asked for or absolutely needed.
Activities like this one or drinking from a cup, feeding and dressing themselves require much more of you in the beginning. More patience and a lot more clean up. Persevere and within no time they will be able to do it with little or no assistance.
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