Teaching Hygiene Skills with ABA During Cold & Flu Season
How bitKIDS supports children in building healthy, independent routines
Cold and flu season can bring extra worry for families—especially when daily hygiene routines feel challenging for children. At bitKIDS Behaviour Consulting, we use Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to break down these skills into clear, achievable steps so children can learn healthy habits with confidence and success.
Hygiene isn’t just about caring for our body; it’s also about helping kids protect themselves and others from getting sick. Here’s how ABA helps us get there.
Why Hygiene Skills Matter (Especially During Cold and Flu Season)
During the fall and winter months, consistent hygiene routines play a big role in reducing the spread of illness. Skills like handwashing, blowing noses, covering coughs, and using sanitizers become essential—but they aren’t always easy.
Many kids need support with:
- Following multi-step routines
- Tolerating new sensations (soap, tissues, water temperature)
- Remembering what to do and when
- Building independence
ABA gives us the tools to teach these skills in a positive way.
How ABA Helps Us Teach Hygiene Skills
1. We Break Skills Into Small, Doable Steps
Rather than expecting independence in a full routine all at once, we create a teaching plan with clear, manageable steps. For example, handwashing may include:
- Turn on tap
- Wet hands
- Get one pump of soap
- Rub palms
- Rub backs of hands
- Scrub between fingers
- Rinse
- Turn off tap
- Dry hands
Teaching one part at a time helps kids master each steps in the routine while receiving support using prompts for the others.
2. We Use Visual Supports and Clear Models
Visuals—like step-by-step charts or bathroom reminders—are powerful teaching tools. They help children learn what comes next and make hygiene routines predictable and easy to follow.
We also model each step so children can see exactly what to do before trying it themselves.
3. We Use Social Stories to Build Understanding
Many children learn more easily when they understand why a skill matters—not just how to do it. That’s why we often use social stories as part of teaching hygiene.
A social story might explain:
- Why we wash our hands (to wash away germs)
- Why we cover our coughs (to help keep our friends healthy)
- Why we throw tissues away right away
- Why it’s important to keep our hands away from our face
These stories are written in simple, supportive language and often include pictures or photos. When children understand the purpose behind a routine, they’re more motivated to complete it.
We customize social stories to match the child’s age, learning style, and interests.
4. We Support Sensory Needs
Hygiene routines can be uncomfortable for children with sensory sensitivities. We take the time to understand what feels overwhelming and adjust the routine so it’s manageable and positive.
In addition, we often use desensitization—a gentle, gradual approach to help children become more comfortable with sensations that feel unfamiliar or unpleasant. This may involve:
- Introducing a small amount of soap on fingertips before using it fully
- Practicing with a dry tissue before blowing a nose
- Exploring water on hands for brief, fun moments before completing a full handwash
- Gradually increasing duration, texture, or pressure based on the child’s comfort
Desensitization helps children build tolerance at their own pace so hygiene routines become less stressful and more familiar over time. We pair every step with positive reinforcement to support success.
5. We Teach Generalization
It’s important that children can use hygiene skills everywhere, not just during sessions. We help them practice:
- At home
- At school or daycare
- In community environments
- With multiple adults
This ensures that hygiene routines become truly functional and consistent.
Common Hygiene Skills We Teach at bitKIDS
During cold and flu season, our teams often support children with:
- Independent handwashing
- Using tissues and blowing their nose
- Throwing tissues away and washing hands after
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Using hand sanitizer safely
- Keeping hands away from the face
- Dressing appropriately for weather (hats, mitts, zippers, layers)
Each program is tailored to the child’s age, readiness, and learning style based on a variety of assessment tools such as the VB-MAPP Self-Care Checklist or Essentials for Living.
Looking for Support This Season?
If you’re noticing challenges with hygiene routines at home, our team can help. ABA can make these skills easier, more predictable, and more successful for your child—while helping keep everyone healthier during cold and flu season.
Visit bitkids.ca or connect with our team to learn more about 1:1 services, Caregiver Coaching and Consultation and individualized skill-building programs.
