Introduction

Teaching kindergarten students proper sneezing and coughing etiquette is an essential part of their social-emotional learning journey. By incorporating these skills, educators can help young children understand the importance of personal hygiene and how their actions impact the well-being of others. In this blog post, we will discuss a no-prep activity, discussion questions, related skills, and next steps to help educators teach proper sneezing and coughing etiquette to their kindergarten students.

No-Prep Activity

A simple, no-prep activity to teach proper sneezing and coughing etiquette is the “Elbow Sneeze and Cough Game.” Here’s how to play:

1. Ask the students to stand in a circle.
2. Explain to them that when they hear the word “sneeze,” they should pretend to sneeze into their elbow, and when they hear the word “cough,” they should pretend to cough into their elbow.
3. Start the game by saying either “sneeze” or “cough” aloud. The students should respond by performing the corresponding action.
4. Continue the game, varying the pace and order of the sneeze and cough prompts. Encourage the students to react quickly and correctly.

This activity not only reinforces proper sneezing and coughing etiquette, but also helps students develop their listening and reaction skills.

Discussion Questions

• Why is it important to cover our mouth and nose when we sneeze or cough?
• What are some other ways we can help prevent the spread of germs in our classroom?
• How do you feel when someone sneezes or coughs without covering their mouth and nose? How can we remind others to practice good hygiene?
• Why is it better to sneeze or cough into our elbow instead of our hands?
• When should we wash our hands after sneezing or coughing?

Related Skills

Beyond teaching proper sneezing and coughing etiquette, there are other related skills that can be incorporated into a kindergarten student’s social-emotional learning experience. These include:

• Handwashing techniques: Teach students the proper way to wash their hands, including using soap, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, and rinsing with clean water.
• Personal space awareness: Help students understand the concept of personal space and how to respect the personal space of others, especially when they are sick.
• Empathy and caring: Encourage students to show empathy and care for their classmates when they are not feeling well, and to understand how their actions can impact the health and well-being of others.

Next Steps

Teaching proper sneezing and coughing etiquette is a crucial part of a kindergarten student’s social-emotional learning journey. To further support your students’ development in this area, we invite you to sign up for free sample materials related to this skill and others. These resources will provide you with additional tools to help your students learn and grow in a fun and engaging way.