Materials: dish soap, water, bucket or plastic container, whisk

An important part of children’s hand-washing is for them to rub their hands together until they see bubbles. Otherwise, the soap slips off and goes down the drain without cleaning their hands.

• Pour some water into a bucket or other plastic container, add a squirt of dish soap, and grab a whisk.

• Have your child use the whisk to stir up some bubbles! Ask questions such as, “What happens when you stir slowly? How about faster? What happens when you add a little more soap?” Let your child experiment and explore.

• When it’s time to wash hands, remind your child of the activity. Challenge your child to make as many bubbles as possible with his or her hands!