See the Germs Spread — Learn Why we Wash Hands

Want to teach your kid how germs spread—and why handwashing matters in a way they’ll never forget? This Glitter Germ Hands activity is a sparkly, hands-on experiment that turns invisible germs into something kids can actually see!

  • Category: ** Free **

You’ll Need:

  • ⁠ ⁠Colorful glitter
  • ⁠ ⁠Hand sanitizer
  • ⁠ ⁠Bowl for mixing

Let’s Make the Magic Happen!

  1. In a small bowl, mix a squirt of hand sanitizer with a generous amount of glitter and stir until is combined.
  2. Dip your kid’s hands into the glittery hand sanitizer mixture and rub hands together until they dry.
  3. Once dry, have your little one shake hands with another person—or touch toys, doorknobs, and other surfaces. Watch the “germs” spread!
  4. Time to wash the glitter off. Encourage your kid to scrub well, especially between the fingers and under nails.

Why We Love It:

  • ⁠ ⁠It turns an everyday routine into a visual, memorable lesson.
  • ⁠ ⁠Glitter stays contained thanks to the hand sanitizer for minimal mess!
  • ⁠ ⁠It sparks curiosity about healthy habits in a way kids really understand.

What’s Happening Here?

  • ⁠ ⁠Germs are invisible but spread fast. Glitter acts like a stand-in for germs, showing how easily they travel from person to person and onto surfaces.
  • ⁠ ⁠Handwashing matters and often takes longer than expected to wash off every bit of glitter, just like real germs!
  • ⁠ ⁠Germs stick around and unless we wash properly, germs can stay on our hands and move from object to object.

Share this Activity

You might also like

This website uses cookies to make sure you get the best experience with us Learn more

Decline
Got it!