You probably tell the kids to wash their hands at least three or four times a day. Kids touch everything: swings, slides, everything within reach. Sure, some germs and bacteria are good for us, but others can cause colds, stomach problems, and so much more. One mom decided to see exactly what was on her son’s hands after he played outside.
Tasha Sturm of Cabrillo College, created a “print” of what was on her son’s hands. There were yeasts, fungi, and bacteria. Most of it was harmless, even good for the kid’s immunity. However, it is something worth showing your kids if they fight you about keeping their hands clean.
You can see how she made the print here. According to the site, “The big blob in the lower right is the image “unknown from handprint #2″ and is most likely a Bacillus sp which is commonly found in dirt…..saw a fair # of what looks like Bacillus. The other image is either a yeast or Bacillus as well. We do this at the beginning of the semester and this is pretty common. The white being Staph and the colored colonies probably yeast. The colored colonies tend to show up after the plates are refrigerated or left at room temp for a few days.”
