Hello Mama's,
I have discovered that my daughters teacher is not allowing her to wash her hands. This is related to all situations where hand washing would be necessary. I am not a total clean freak but I feel this is rather unsanitary. The particulate is still there, dirt and all the other things that I cannot stand to think about. My daughter told her teacher that "it's very important to my mommy that I wash my hands with soap and water", she was told that we have magic soap and don't need to use soap or water. I have spoken with the school nurse and she in so many words said that my daughter must have misunderstood or didn't want to wash. She said that there was a sink in the restroom and she should be able to wash her hands there without the teacher knowing. (?) I informed her that the sink was outside of the restroom in the class where I assume that the teacher does not want the sink used due to distraction. The nurse said she would speak to the teacher and did nothing more. I do not want to be a trouble maker but I do want my daughter to be able to wash her hands without being singled out. She has had sever hand pealing and cracking in the past from moderate use of these products and I hate to think of how toxic the product might be.
In addition to this the class had been restricted from sending peanuts or tree nuts for lunch. The school nurse sent home a note about properly enforcing good hygiene habits by proper handing washing at home??? Um what about school? I am not totally opposed to this I would not want my child to be in fear of a classmates lunch but I cannot help but feel like this could be allowed or better managed if they were actually allowed to wash the particulate and oils away with soap and water.
I have prodded a bit and asked about the other teachers, I don't know if this is the case or not but it does not appear that they are allowing hand washing either.
Has anyone else had this problem? if so how did you handle it without singling out your child.
I just want to thank everyone for your advice. I did speak with her teacher briefly this morning.
I said that my DD had mentioned that you use hand sanitizer instead of using soap and water. Unfortunately it came out rather bluntly than what I had intended on saying ... Whoops.
She said "Oh she did, did she"? " she can wash her hands if she wants to". Even though on several (every) occasions my DD has asked and was told No. I didn't mention that of course. I continued to say that in the past it has caused her to have severe burning, cracking and peeling. The teacher said to just let her be aware of the problem if she starts to become irritated. That was pretty much it. Using sanitizer to the point where I have to let the teacher know that it's a problem, is a problem. We will be seeing the pediatrician shortly so hopefully she can write a note to reinforce the issue.
In response to the medical employee I understand the products use, I do believe that you can touch several things after washing your hands, that would require sanitizer before walking into the room of your next patient. Coughing, sneezing etc. But can you honestly say that you would change soiled linens or empty bed pan and just use some sanitizer. I wouldn't want to be the next patient seen gloves or not! Would you be comfortable with a surgeon using sanitizer instead of scrubbing with soap and water? I do not mean to be nasty, I am just asking you to think about it. Try it before lunch and then go out to eat. Sanitized dirt, pee, poop "E coli" MRSA and whatever particulate...Sounds Yummy huh. It is not that far off from a child using the restroom then cleaning with sanitizer and eating. I wouldn't would you? This is what so many of our children are being told, not asked to do and it is truly revolting. Sorry this is so long.
That's very unfortunate. Besides the skin problems, it is just like over use of antibiotics. And children who put their hands in their mouths could get sick from that much use of it.
I would talk to her and let her know you are not comfortable with it and why.
I noticed when my DD was in first grade the teacher would have all the kids hold out their hands before snack time for her to drop a dose of hand sanitizer for them to use. Her skin was very sensitive, would crack, over dry and react from this daily ritual. And I also am NOT a fan of anti-bacterial chemical use. I taught her to politely tell her teacher "no thank you, my Mom asked that I not use hand sanitizer" and her teacher was just fine with that. I taught her that every chance she has (using the bathroom, before lunch, after painting, etc) she needs to wash her hands well with regular soap and water.
I just finished up a microbiology class, and one of the things my immensely anal professor drummed into us, was that hand sanitizers have a place - but it is a very small place, and they should only be used in an emergency.
The reason for this is that you put on the sanitizer. You rub your hands. The germs die - where are the dead germs? They are still on your hands. All those dead germs are food for the next batch of germs that get on your hands. The germs that are on your hands become resistant to the alcohol, we are now breeding a new range of alcohol resistant bacterium and viruses.
As a former teacher, I totally believe that it is happening. You need to go up to the teacher and tell her that your daughter has to be able to use soap and water to wash her hands - that her skin peels, etc. from hand sanitizers.
Thats not being a problem parent - its a reasonable request.
I would schedule a meeting with her teacher maybe while recess or something. The only way that it is going to get resolved, and it is faster, and will most likely make you feel better about it.
Sending a letter, or email is impersonal especially if this is a important issue to you, and I agree. You can go in, say what is on your mind and see what she has to say, and it gets the real story clarified.
Hand washing is so important, especially these days. The children go outside, and get dirt and mud on their hands sanitizer isnt going to cut it. Same with using the bathroom, touching other kid's hands etc, etc. Hand washing is necessary! No buts about it.
I cant remember how many times I wash my hands everyday. Its endless, I could imagine it should be the same for the children. They are smaller, and their immune systems are too. They get sick so often that is should be mandatory for them to wash their hands when they get to school, bathroom breaks, after coming inside from play on and on.
Its one way of protecting our kids from germs and such. I dont understand how a teacher can refuse to let them wash.
Go in, and explain to the teacher all that, and that your daughter cannot use hand sanitizer due to her allergic reaction to it. I am allergic too and cant use it. It dries my hands out so badly that they are rough, dry, cracked, and rashy. Its painful. Washing with soap and water is more effective.
Good luck and hope it works out.
Really???
My son is in pre-school and the first rule there is when he walks in he hangs up his stuff and goes to the sink to wash his hands before he sits down.
Good luck getting this worked out.
Clarification directly from the teacher herself should be your course of action. Can you email her? Our teachers have always given out their district email addresses. I, too, would not be happy about my child using sanitizer several times a day.
I don't think this was mentioned, but hand sanitizer will not break down peanut proteins, so if the teacher is indeed not allowing the children to wash their hands with soap and water, then she is putting the food allergic child(ren) at risk. I am not sure about other allergens like egg, wheat, beef, etc.
There was a girl in my daughter's class last year who was working on a project in class when she started breaking out in hives and couldn't breathe. She's allergic to nuts and several other items. There should not have been nuts around because the school bans nuts through 1st grade, so we think someone had eaten food with egg product in it at lunch (just prior to art time), touched the craft and gave the item to the child who then touched the allergen and had a reaction. If this is indeed what happened, then had there been proper hand washing, the reaction could have been avoided.
one of my kids would be very sensitive to using hand sanitizer often and so would I I think you might just talk to the teacher to be sure that you child relayed the info correctly, maybe she misunderstood the teacher or what ever, you might try a gentle approach like "hi Teacher, my daughter was telling me that she isn't able to use the sink to wash her hands in class and I was just wondering if she misunderstood the rule? You see she has very sensitive skin and using hand sanitizer all the time would cause her to have dry and cracking skin, she even bleed once from it getting so bad...(pause and wait for a response)"
that way you are not confronting the teacher but still getting the point across that your child needs to be able to wash her hands, as for the other students... not all Kinder kids do that well of a job washing their hands the sanitizer may actually get their hands more germ free than what I see most kids at that age do, which is wet hands squirt soap, then run the soapy hands under the water while scrubbing, which really doesn't do much for cleaning or getting rid of the germs it just washes away the soap.
The hand sanitizer vs. hand washing thing is bizarre! I can't offer suggestions on that one, but the peanut thing has nothing to do with whether they wash their hands or not. I have a son with peanut allergies, and it is a life-threatening allergy. Unlike other food allergies that merely cause discomfort, a peanut allergy reaction is worse with each exposure. Some children are so sensitive to the peanut protein that they cannot be in the same room with someone who has just eaten a peanut butter sandwich outside! It gets in the air when the person speaks, coughs, or sneezes. More children seem to have this allergy now than 10 years ago, and more classrooms are having to make accommodations to this allergy.
On the hand washing thing: do the teachers not know that hand sanitizer is supposed to be used in addition to, and after hand washing???
Unfortunately, this is the new trend in schools. My son (2nd grade) told me the teachers told the class it takes too much time for the class to wash their hands before lunch. They each get a squirt of sanitizer on their way to the cafeteria.
I include a prepackaged wipe in his lunchbox so he can at least get some of the gunk off. Sometimes I pack a really wet paper towel in a zip bag to 'rinse' with.
In 2nd grade, they are FINALLY letting the kids go to the bathroom when needed (instead of pre-set times) so he goes to wash then.
Don't be reluctant to speak up for your child and that includes getting the teacher's input to make sure you have all the facts. :-)
Unfortunately, we've had the same problem...my 1st grader has come home & told me that to conserve water, they are only using hand sanitizer...I'm not too happy about it...from what I understand, hand sanitizer shouldn't be used in excess...I hope you figure out a good solution!
Unfortunately many teachers just do not realize that hand sanitizer should not be used on a daily basis. I would not at all worry about singling your child out, neither of my children use the school's hand sanitizer or the toxic clorox wipes they pass out.
I sent a note stating they are allergic to the chemicals in these products(because essentially all children are) and I sent a non toxic hand sanitizer in for them to use instead when it is necessary. They simply remind the teacher or the students squirting the hand sanitizer not to give them any.
So many kids have special requests and needs in these times that it really is not a problem, neither of my children have a problem with it or feel different, they know the hand sanitizer can hurt them and they don't want to use it.
I work in the health care field. Hand sanitizers are recommended to use in hospitals by all medical personnel. It even kills germs for some time after being used.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100323223948...
But, as a mom, I know kids don't always tell you the WHOLE story. Please contact the teacher and ask her in a non confrontational way what the policy is.
Send a note to the teacher asking what her rules or the school's rule is about washing hands...when can kindergarteners wash, where, how often can they wash, etc.
Talk to the teacher a d get her side of it. If she is not allowing hand washing then I would go to the principal. Also explain that she can't use hand sanitized. My sons school doesn't use hand sanitizer, they use baby wipes instead. Lunch is right after recess, as they come in from recess they are handed a wipe to clean their hands before grabbing their lunchbox. Not perfect but with only 3 sinks in the grade level there is no way 60 kids can wash hands in time for lunch.
HMM. I see you and I are in the same area:) Go talk with the teacher. Especially with Flu season around the corner hand washing is a must as gels only address bacteria, not really viruses. . .
I would talk to the teacher directly (go to the school) and see the situation. While I get that sanitizer is quicker most of the time for simple things like pre-meal eating, if the kid has been out in the play yard, then there is dirt that needs to be washed off. I would ask why there is this rule and see what's behind it and explain about your child's hands.
You might also post it to the PTA and ask them what's what. Sometimes that 1. effects change and 2. gives you a clue if you are new to the school. Maybe other parents can clarify.
Most people think that the sanitizer does the same thing as soap. I use both at different times. Mostly I use the sanitizer when I can not wash my hands with soap. Talk to the teacher and let her know she is not able to use it very often ask she will have an adverce reaction to it. To me it does not matter the servarity of the reaction is cause that is deffiently a reaction to it so it's not a lie! They are making you not since anything with peanuts because a child could have a reaction to that. I know it's not the same but it can be something to use as levarage. To me the teachers need to listen to the parnets with stuff like that but unfortunatly they don't. At my son's school until the swine flu came around they did not even have soap in the restroom and all the water is cold. They have now put soap in but I don't think the water has heated up any. So if that is how it is there she might think it's better to use sanitizer. My son's have a milk allergy and it was so hard to get the daycare to monitor it closly till my son ended up in the ER from it. They just thought it was too hard to make sure a toddler could not get another cup. .
Good luck and God Bless!!!
I think I would start out with a note to the teacher asking for clarification of the classroom rules, especially with regard to hand washing. It may be that your little one just didn't understand what the teacher was telling her. Perhaps the teacher just didn't want her to wash her hands at that particular time, but it is not a blanket rule about no hand washing. If, in fact, it is a blanket rule about hand washing, I would certainly bring it up with the teacher. I would not want my child "taught" not to wash her hands which it seems like this rule is doing. And I agree that alot of those hand sanitizers dry your skin out quite a bit. I would not want to exclusively use hand sanitizer for just that reason!
