Preschool Germ Activity – Teaching your Preschooler about Germs

Since germs are invisible, your preschooler may not understand the importance of washing their hands to prevent the spread of germs. But with this fun preschool germ activity your preschooler can learn one way germs are spread. This preschool science experiment should teach your preschooler the importance of hand-washing, and using an arm or sleeve for coughs and sneezes.

What your Preschooler will Learn from this Preschool Germ Activity:

1. Germs on their hands by touching objects
2. Germs on objects can be passed to other people

What you Need for this Preschool Germ Activity:

1. Flour
2. A washable toy for your preschooler to play with for ten minutes (plastic blocks or large legos are great)
3. A washable spot that your preschooler will stay in for ten minutes with their toy (i.e.: the kitchen table)

What To Do:

Step one: Have your preschooler coat their hands with flour

Step two: Send your preschooler to play with the washable object

What will Happen During this Preschool Germ Activity?:

Every time your preschooler touches an object, they will get flour on it. Show your preschooler that when you pick up an object with flour on it, you get flour on your hands.

What to Teach your Preschooler During this Preschool Germ Activity:

1. The flour simulates germs. Every time your preschooler has germs on their hands and touch something, the germs transfer to that object. And if you pick up that object with germs on it, the germs transfer to you.
2. Teach your preschooler to wash their hands with warm soapy water to get rid of the germs and prevent spreading them to their favorite toys.
3. While it may seem like a battle to get your child to cover their noses and mouths with anything when they cough or sneeze, preschoolers should be learning to cough and sneeze into a sleeve, shoulder or elbow to prevent germs from even getting onto their hands.

Variations:

If you really want your preschooler to learn from this preschool germ activity (and don’t mind cleaning up afterwards), coat your preschooler’s hands with flour and send them on their daily routine. They will coat everything they touch, such as doorknobs, toys, cups, books, toilet handles and chairs with flour. And they will learn that germs can and will live on everything they touch.

---

Like this article? Get more like it in your inbox. Subscribe today to our free weekly newsletter.