Teach children cough etiquette printable. Art activity for distance learning

How can you teach children cough etiquette? Teaching little ones to cover their mouth when they sneeze or cough can be difficult because you can’t always “see” a cough or a sneeze and therefore young children don’t grasp the concept of how germs can spread this way…

Fun Visual Art to Teach Children Cough Etiquette

With social distancing, distance learning, self isolation and unprecedented health warnings due to covid-19, teaching children cough etiquette has never been more prominent. Not only for themselves, but so they are aware of the importance in others. Teach children cough etiquette with this visually striking watercolour blowing art activity that allows them to “see” how germs in a cough or sneeze can travel.

The results are pretty amazing… And since children are visual creatures, the activity really has a wow factor. We had so much fun doing many many sneeze and cough pictures.

To do this activity you will need:

The Teach Children Cough Etiquette Printable (Each child needs one, ‘how far can a sneeze or cough go?’ and one, ‘when it is covered’ sheet).
Water colour paints.
Water brush, ours are like this, or a soft paint brush
Tissues
Straws (optional)
A paint shirt (optional)

How to do this Activity

First you will need to get your printable from TPT, print out the pages you would like to use. Each child should have one person or face that says “how far can a cough or sneeze go?” and another ready for part to of the project, “how far does a cough or a sneeze go… if it is covered?”. You might want to take this activity outside, it can get messy.

Set up the area… Supply water colour paints, water, brushes and a straw.

Explain the concept of how germs are in our saliva, nose and mouth. And how they can carry colds, flu’s, viruses and other sicknesses. This is why it is important to keep our coughs and sneezes to our selves, remember to clean our hands and use tissues. Discussion while doing art is usually a great way to introduce topics in a neutral, every day talking, kind of way.

Gentle discussions are best during this pandemic. Another point you may highlight is how you can’t “see” a cough or a sneeze, but it does not mean it doesn’t travel and touch other people. To highlight this, use the water colour and blow wet paint from the mouth of the people you printed. Use a straw, or just blow with your mouth to show how far it can go.

Next, you can highlight the importance of using a tissue by placing a tissue in front of the next person’s face. Hold the tissue with your hand and do the activity again. This will stop the paint. This is a visual ‘ah-huh’ moment if the tissue is held on the page to stop this water colour paint.

Finally, compare the two pictures… WOW!

I think they get it now.

Just for fun

I added a count the germ page that can be used for assisting children to complete distance learning like counting and basic math.

This can be used as a physical tool, similar to how children use their fingers. Cut out the germs and write some math sums for some practice while social distancing.

Best of luck with this activity. I hope you have a lot of fun with your children.

Many schools are now closed and many parents have made the decision to social distance. Remember home schooling isn’t an entire day of school, like school students get. At school their attention is split up between a class full of kids. At home you can put in smaller more condensed clumps of school work.

BUT for the most of it, your children will gain valuable skills from hands on life experience… Cooking, contributing to the household, gardening, making things with you, doing art, playing games, getting into nature if they can, going on scavenger hunts, building things, getting along with siblings and being responsible. So please remember to use this time to re-connect with them. Be in the moment and cherish their childhood.

Take care of yourself and your family

xx Renee

You might be interested in: Best Books to Develop Emotional Intelligence

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Below is a link to the new community on Facebook called “Play Based Parents” – if you are looking for kids activities, play based learning ideas, purposeful play, and ways to create meaningful parenting moments join us and contribute to the group.

Ask questions. If you try this activity post a photo… or post your own idea’s.