Re: Advice for hand washing

[Guest guest]

As a teacher, I can tell you that some kids are very finicky about their hands

being dirty or touching sticky or anything they deem icky. I don't think that

this necessarily means OCD, although, of course, some children with this do have

OCD. I would be more concerned about the question about the wipes and pens

because that sounds more OCD-ish. Here's a funny point that you might want to

check out though: My dentist mentioned to me that his little son who is about

this girl's age is freaking out about touching things and germs. (He told me

about it because he knows I have OCD in this regard.) When questioned further,

he said that his wife is a nut about germs and washing hands and so is he.

Thus, we both had a laugh because it is still to be determined if his son is

just exhibiting learned behavior or is a result of his own OCD. Is this little

girl's mom or dad germ obsessed or a worrier and passing the worry onto her? Do

they make a deal if she comes home dirty?

How should you handle the girl in your care? You would have to have the parents

aboard with this, but you could arrange for her to have regular bathroom breaks

when she does wash her hands afterwards. Then you can tell her when she asks to

use the bathroom as a way to get to wash her hands, that she will be using the

bathroom again at the predetermined time so she doesn't need to now. If she

protests, be very loving and supportive to help her deal with the stress this

may cause since she won't be able to wash.

Advice for hand washing

Hi,

I usually post about my son, but I am seeking some advice for one of my day care

girls. I am a home day care provider so she is with me Monday thru Friday...in

the morning she is at preschool. She will be 5 in July. Apparently her

preschool teacher mentioned to her Mom yesterday that she is washing her hands

much more frequently...in an OCD manner...and is concerned about things being

dirty. While I had not noticed it happening at my house, she has recently asked

me quite frequently if certain things are poisonous, such as the baby wipes;

will she get poison on her. She also asked me that with pens/markers. This

morning she said she wanted to wash her hands because her kids camera she was

playing with was dirty. She showed me the camera and it was not dirty, although

I will say there was tiny spot that was sticky. (she made it a point to show me

that when I said it was not dirty and after I said you would wash hands if

something were sticky!)

My question is how do you explain to her when it's ok to wash your hands and

when it is not? I said something this morning about when you go to the

bathroom, that is when you definitely wash your hands. Well, a few minutes

later she " had to go potty " ! I went up there with her to see if she actually

did go, which she did not (she claims she went a little, but the color of the

water was unchanged). I don't want her to start " having to go potty " every 5

minutes so she can wash her hands. But yet there are times when you DO wash you

hands! My son, who is now 13 had a little run with hand washing a few years

ago, but fortunately it was short-llived and hasn't returned (we have other

problems to deal with with him now....almost wish it was just the hand

washing!!)

I am not seeking advice without her parents knowing by the way. They were

asking me how to handle it!

Thanks,

Debbie

[Guest guest]

As a teacher, I can tell you that some kids are very finicky about their hands

being dirty or touching sticky or anything they deem icky. I don't think that

this necessarily means OCD, although, of course, some children with this do have

OCD. I would be more concerned about the question about the wipes and pens

because that sounds more OCD-ish. Here's a funny point that you might want to

check out though: My dentist mentioned to me that his little son who is about

this girl's age is freaking out about touching things and germs. (He told me

about it because he knows I have OCD in this regard.) When questioned further,

he said that his wife is a nut about germs and washing hands and so is he.

Thus, we both had a laugh because it is still to be determined if his son is

just exhibiting learned behavior or is a result of his own OCD. Is this little

girl's mom or dad germ obsessed or a worrier and passing the worry onto her? Do

they make a deal if she comes home dirty?

How should you handle the girl in your care? You would have to have the parents

aboard with this, but you could arrange for her to have regular bathroom breaks

when she does wash her hands afterwards. Then you can tell her when she asks to

use the bathroom as a way to get to wash her hands, that she will be using the

bathroom again at the predetermined time so she doesn't need to now. If she

protests, be very loving and supportive to help her deal with the stress this

may cause since she won't be able to wash.

Advice for hand washing

Hi,

I usually post about my son, but I am seeking some advice for one of my day care

girls. I am a home day care provider so she is with me Monday thru Friday...in

the morning she is at preschool. She will be 5 in July. Apparently her

preschool teacher mentioned to her Mom yesterday that she is washing her hands

much more frequently...in an OCD manner...and is concerned about things being

dirty. While I had not noticed it happening at my house, she has recently asked

me quite frequently if certain things are poisonous, such as the baby wipes;

will she get poison on her. She also asked me that with pens/markers. This

morning she said she wanted to wash her hands because her kids camera she was

playing with was dirty. She showed me the camera and it was not dirty, although

I will say there was tiny spot that was sticky. (she made it a point to show me

that when I said it was not dirty and after I said you would wash hands if

something were sticky!)

My question is how do you explain to her when it's ok to wash your hands and

when it is not? I said something this morning about when you go to the

bathroom, that is when you definitely wash your hands. Well, a few minutes

later she " had to go potty " ! I went up there with her to see if she actually

did go, which she did not (she claims she went a little, but the color of the

water was unchanged). I don't want her to start " having to go potty " every 5

minutes so she can wash her hands. But yet there are times when you DO wash you

hands! My son, who is now 13 had a little run with hand washing a few years

ago, but fortunately it was short-llived and hasn't returned (we have other

problems to deal with with him now....almost wish it was just the hand

washing!!)

I am not seeking advice without her parents knowing by the way. They were

asking me how to handle it!

Thanks,

Debbie

[Guest guest]

As a teacher, I can tell you that some kids are very finicky about their hands

being dirty or touching sticky or anything they deem icky. I don't think that

this necessarily means OCD, although, of course, some children with this do have

OCD. I would be more concerned about the question about the wipes and pens

because that sounds more OCD-ish. Here's a funny point that you might want to

check out though: My dentist mentioned to me that his little son who is about

this girl's age is freaking out about touching things and germs. (He told me

about it because he knows I have OCD in this regard.) When questioned further,

he said that his wife is a nut about germs and washing hands and so is he.

Thus, we both had a laugh because it is still to be determined if his son is

just exhibiting learned behavior or is a result of his own OCD. Is this little

girl's mom or dad germ obsessed or a worrier and passing the worry onto her? Do

they make a deal if she comes home dirty?

How should you handle the girl in your care? You would have to have the parents

aboard with this, but you could arrange for her to have regular bathroom breaks

when she does wash her hands afterwards. Then you can tell her when she asks to

use the bathroom as a way to get to wash her hands, that she will be using the

bathroom again at the predetermined time so she doesn't need to now. If she

protests, be very loving and supportive to help her deal with the stress this

may cause since she won't be able to wash.

Advice for hand washing

Hi,

I usually post about my son, but I am seeking some advice for one of my day care

girls. I am a home day care provider so she is with me Monday thru Friday...in

the morning she is at preschool. She will be 5 in July. Apparently her

preschool teacher mentioned to her Mom yesterday that she is washing her hands

much more frequently...in an OCD manner...and is concerned about things being

dirty. While I had not noticed it happening at my house, she has recently asked

me quite frequently if certain things are poisonous, such as the baby wipes;

will she get poison on her. She also asked me that with pens/markers. This

morning she said she wanted to wash her hands because her kids camera she was

playing with was dirty. She showed me the camera and it was not dirty, although

I will say there was tiny spot that was sticky. (she made it a point to show me

that when I said it was not dirty and after I said you would wash hands if

something were sticky!)

My question is how do you explain to her when it's ok to wash your hands and

when it is not? I said something this morning about when you go to the

bathroom, that is when you definitely wash your hands. Well, a few minutes

later she " had to go potty " ! I went up there with her to see if she actually

did go, which she did not (she claims she went a little, but the color of the

water was unchanged). I don't want her to start " having to go potty " every 5

minutes so she can wash her hands. But yet there are times when you DO wash you

hands! My son, who is now 13 had a little run with hand washing a few years

ago, but fortunately it was short-llived and hasn't returned (we have other

problems to deal with with him now....almost wish it was just the hand

washing!!)

I am not seeking advice without her parents knowing by the way. They were

asking me how to handle it!

Thanks,

Debbie

[Guest guest]

I would set a timer to let her go potty as often as she was before. Let her know

she can go potty and wash hands when the timer goes off. Then explain that other

times when she wants to wash her hands, you want to do a little experiment to

see how long she can go without washing. Then give her a sticker for 5 minutes,

then 10 minutes, on and on. Then give treats for a certain number of stickers.

For me, the point would be for her brain to learn that she does not have to wash

just because she feels like it. Praise her for not washing and point out how she

had more play time, etc because she did not wash, even though the feeling was

there. Good for you for trying to help her!

Rhonda

Advice for hand washing

Hi,

I usually post about my son, but I am seeking some advice for one of my day

care girls. I am a home day care provider so she is with me Monday thru

Friday...in the morning she is at preschool. She will be 5 in July. Apparently

her preschool teacher mentioned to her Mom yesterday that she is washing her

hands much more frequently...in an OCD manner...and is concerned about things

being dirty. While I had not noticed it happening at my house, she has recently

asked me quite frequently if certain things are poisonous, such as the baby

wipes; will she get poison on her. She also asked me that with pens/markers.

This morning she said she wanted to wash her hands because her kids camera she

was playing with was dirty. She showed me the camera and it was not dirty,

although I will say there was tiny spot that was sticky. (she made it a point to

show me that when I said it was not dirty and after I said you would wash hands

if something were sticky!)

My question is how do you explain to her when it's ok to wash your hands and

when it is not? I said something this morning about when you go to the bathroom,

that is when you definitely wash your hands. Well, a few minutes later she " had

to go potty " ! I went up there with her to see if she actually did go, which she

did not (she claims she went a little, but the color of the water was

unchanged). I don't want her to start " having to go potty " every 5 minutes so

she can wash her hands. But yet there are times when you DO wash you hands! My

son, who is now 13 had a little run with hand washing a few years ago, but

fortunately it was short-llived and hasn't returned (we have other problems to

deal with with him now....almost wish it was just the hand washing!!)

I am not seeking advice without her parents knowing by the way. They were

asking me how to handle it!

Thanks,

Debbie