PL T3.02Wiping a Spill with a Cloth
The child wipes up a small spill of water or food with a small cloth and puts the wet cloth in the laundry basket.
Safety
- Cloths are wetted with water only; no disinfectant, bleach, or spray cleaner is used by or near the child.
- A wet floor is a slip risk: the adult checks the floor is dry before children walk or run there again.
Presentation
- 1
When water or food spills, say in a calm voice, 'Water spilled. We can wipe it.'
- 2
Walk with the child to the cloth basket and take one cloth. Hand the child a second cloth.
- 3
Place your flat hand on the cloth and wipe the spill slowly from the outside toward the middle. Stop and look at the wet cloth. The water going into the cloth is the point of interest.
- 4
Wait for the child to wipe with their cloth. Do not correct how they wipe.
- 5
Touch the spot with your fingers to check that it is dry, and say, 'Dry.'
- 6
Walk together to the laundry basket and drop the wet cloths in.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Wipe a spill on the floor, kneeling
- Wipe up crumbs on the table after eating into a cupped hand or small bowl
- Get a cloth without being shown when a spill happens
- Wipe a spill made by another child
Control of error
A wet or sticky spot left on the table or floor is visible and can be felt with the fingers.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Goes to get a cloth when something spills
- Wipes until the surface is dry to the touch
- Puts the used cloth in the laundry basket
Guide note
The adult's tone decides whether a toddler learns that spills are something to fix or something to fear. Keep cloths where the child can reach them without asking.