Recommended Age: 3 to 5 years
Purpose: to give the child practical life skills to care for themselves
Level of Parent Involvement: Low, after the adult has modelled this exercise the child may work independently
Prerequisites
- None
Materials
- A medium sized bowl
- A small jug
- A nail brush
- A small bar of soap
- Soap pad (optional)
- A hand towel
- A wash cloth
- A small bucket
- Apron (optional)
Preparation
- Prepare the child’s table, by placing the bowl on the table with the jug inside, the soap on the soap pad, the bucket underneath the table and the folded wash cloth on the table
Note: to make this activity more purposeful for the child, choose a time after the child has done an activity such as finger painting or has been playing in the garden (we want the child to have dirt/paint under their nails in order to be able to see the difference before and after they have used the nail brush)
Steps
- Invite the child, letting them know that you are going to show them how to scrub their fingernails
- The child may get their apron and put it on (providing assistance if necessary)
- Go with the child to their table, noticing the materials that have been set up, naming each
- Let the child know that they will need some water in the jug, invite the child to get some water (you may use warm water depending on the weather and the child’s preference)
- Invite the child to pour the water into the bowl
- Notice the child’s dirty finger nails
- Show the child the nail brush, letting them know that using the nail brush will get the dirt out from under their nails
- Demonstrate to the child how to use the nail brush, first by dipping your left finger tips into the bowl
- Using your right hand take the nail brush and dip into the water in the bowl so that the bristles are wet
- Take the nail brush to the soap on the soap pad and move the nail brush back and forth a few times until there is soap on the bristles
- Starting with your thumb, hold the nail brush horizontally and move the brush back and forth at the top of your thumb nail
- Then use the nail brush again moving it back and forth along the left side of the thumb nail and cuticles
- Repeat for the right side of the thumb nail
- Rinse your thumb nail in the water
- You may show the child how to do another finger nail or invite the child to scrub their nails at this point
- Leave the child to work independently, letting them know they may use the wash cloth to dry their hands
- When they have finished show the child how to pack up
- The child may empty the water from the bowl into the bucket, then empty the bucket
- They may use the hand towel to dry the bowl and the jug and any drips on the table
Variations
- None
