Ensuring good hygiene at events with small children is no easy task. From outdoor festivals to family gatherings, keeping little hands clean can require extra work, particularly when soap and water aren’t readily accessible. While adults may instinctively use hand sanitizer stations, children often need extra guidance and encouragement. Keep reading for practical tips on how to help small children use hand sanitizer at events.
Benefits of Offering Hand Sanitizer in Event Spaces
Many events have limited bathroom space or rely on portable toilets, making hand sanitizer a child’s best defense against bacteria and viruses. Small children tend to be curious explorers who touch everything, and while this is great for their learning, it’s not ideal for preventing the spread of germs. For instance, if you host an outdoor event, children might encounter mud, dirt, dust, and dangerous bacteria. Their hands could get dirty in minutes, which is a major inconvenience if there’s no readily accessible washroom.
Here are the biggest benefits of supplying hand sanitizer at your event:
- Quick and effective: Hand sanitizer can kill up to 99.9% of common germs in seconds.
- Convenient: Your guests can sanitize their hands without the use of running water or towels.
- Encourages hygiene: Personal hygiene becomes easy to maintain, even in outdoor or high-traffic locations.
Challenges of Getting Kids To Use Hand Sanitizer
While hand sanitizer is convenient, getting small children to use it properly can be tricky. Many kids don’t know the importance of clean hands and may resist using a product they don’t understand. They might claim they washed their hands earlier and don’t need to do it again.
Kids are also prone to misusing hand sanitizer. Some might squirt out too much, while others barely use enough to cover their palms. Children with sensitive skin may feel discomfort if the sanitizer contains a high percentage of alcohol or strong fragrances. Others may not like the feeling of residue left on their hands after using it.
Thankfully, the right approach, combined with proper event planning, can tackle these hurdles and make hand sanitizer fun and effective for kids.
How To Get Small Children To Use Hand Sanitizer
Try the following tips to get kids on board with using hand sanitizer so your event stays hygienic.
Make It Accessible
If busy parents and kids have to spend more than five or so minutes searching for a hand sanitizer station, they’re less likely to use it. That’s why one of the simplest yet most effective ways to help small children use hand sanitizer at events is by making dispensers accessible. Consider placing them near popular areas such as food stations, play areas, and drinking fountains. This way, parents can easily remind their children to use it throughout the event space.
Use Fun Signage
Bright colors and cartoons can make a difference when communicating with children. Placing kid-friendly signs near the sanitizer stations might spark their curiosity and get them excited to try it. To make your visuals even more useful, choose ones that demonstrate the proper steps for applying hand sanitizer:
- Squeeze sanitizer into one hand.
- Rub both hands together.
- Spread across palms, backs of hands, and between fingers.
The more engaging and easier this process looks, the more likely it is that kids will follow along.
Choose Kid-Friendly Sanitizers
Not all sanitizers are the same. Strong alcohol smells or sticky textures may put some children off. Your best choice is a simple, fragrance-free sanitizer that’s gentle on the hands. If that’s not possible, consider one that has a mild, fruity fragrance that could appeal to young children.
Encourage Frequent Use
Regular hand sanitizing is essential at events where kids interact with frequently touched surfaces such as play structures and shared toys. Encourage kids to use the sanitizer before meals, after bathroom visits, and after touching any shared amenities.
Lead By Example
Children are more likely to follow instructions when they see adults doing the same. Make sure staff and volunteers use hand sanitizer frequently and visibly. This will show kids that using sanitizer is a normal part of good hygiene practices.
Educate Kids on Germ Prevention
Taking a few minutes to explain why it’s important to keep hands clean can go a long way in getting kids to buy into using hand sanitizer. Use simple language and fun visuals to help them understand how germs spread and how hand sanitizing helps prevent illness.
Make It a Game
Turn sanitizing into a fun activity by incorporating games. For instance:
- “Clean Hands Challenge”: Challenge groups of kids to compete with one another to see who can sanitize their hands the fastest while following the proper steps.
- Glow-in-the-dark sanitizer: If this option is available, it can help kids feel like they’re watching germs disappear as they rub.
- Reward systems: Hand out stickers or small treats for kids who remember to sanitize regularly throughout the event.
Gamifying hygiene encourages kids to see it as a fun and important part of their day.
Common Events Where Hand Sanitizer Is Necessary
It’s always a good idea for parents to keep hand sanitizer in a bag with them. However, as an event organizer, you’ll need to provide resources for families and caretakers regardless of what items they carry with them.
Kids are constantly eating snacks and touching rides at outdoor fairs and carnivals. If you run this type of outdoor event space, renting hand sanitizer stations at key locations such as entrance areas, food courts, and play zones can keep germs at bay.
Sporting events at parks and stadiums are full of physical contact and shared equipment. Providing hand sanitizer for players, spectators, and event staff can help keep everyone clean and healthy. Parents will thank you for prioritizing hygiene in these crowded spaces.
By offering clean, accessible sanitizer stations at your event, you can ensure everyone leaves with clean hands. Floods Royal Flush is known for providing reliable sanitation rentals for events across northern Illinois. Reach out to our team for expert guidance and affordable solutions, including kid-friendly hand sanitizer rentals.
