Ugh! Today was one of those days when you wish you were just a teacher and not a teacher/nurse/nanny.
All of my students were dropped off today - parents making phone calls in their car or walking their dogs during the lessons. This left me alone with a bunch of gradeschool kids playing anatomy -
One girl stuck her finger in her ear and showed me what she found. Another boy stuck his hands in his pants, apparently to -um-adjust things - RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME !!! Nose picking, scab picking, coughing, sneezing - GROSS GROSS GROSS. I've learned the hard way to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer at the piano and squirt hands as often as I can b/c I'm never quick enough to ask them to go wash their hands before they're already on the keys again.
Again I say gross. I don't think I'll be touching my piano for a few days...
Thanks for listening - how do you handle these situations? Students seemed to be more reserved - in part - when their parents are there.

I require my parents to sit in at lessons.

I also make sure that hands are washed and dried before sitting at the piano. (This is also written in my policy.)

This seems to help.

Mrs Camels...I think that coughing and sneezing are a couple of 'harmless' and non-preventable behaviors that you could let 'wash' over you...they are hygene issues and you seem to have that area covered via your dissinfectant bottle. These behaviors can't be avoided as they stem from the body's natural impulses. (try stopping a sneeze or cough..virtually impossible especially if you're a child)

However, what greatly concerns me is the social and moral inappropriate behavior exhibited by the student whose parents should definately by notified ASAP...ie: the boy with his hands down his pants. This is not only inappropriate, but it also comes under 'defiance' and 'perversity' as exhibited by the child, and in my opinion, must absolutely be brought to the parent's attention immediately. They are responsible for such behavior being able to exist, in the presence of others. And I would highly recommend that if behavior does not cease immediately, you terminate the student's tuition.

Also, I would contact the parents of the said 'nose and scab picker' and the 'ear wax archeologist' (lol), on the grounds that such behavior is socially inappropriate and unhygenic to others. These are behaviors that are intentional and willing, and not physiologically impulsive, like a cough or sneeze.

Best of luck.

Gee sheesh, give a boy a break!

Well, how old was the boy? If he was 12, then a definite talking to with the parents are in order. If he was 5, then I might say "That's not something you do in public, and you excuse yourself and do that in the bathroom."

I had one boy who was sick, but he was playing up the fact (he was 5, but he does like to get attention) and was coughing right onto the piano. I reminded him he needs to cover his mouth. I had hand sanitizer on the piano for following students, and I made a point of using my Clorox wipes on the keys right after he left.

Most children aren't taught manners these days. I think it's a lost art. But I keep trying to remind students so they know how to sit and what's appropriate behavior. I do not have the parents sit in on lessons, as they can often be a distraction. But most of them do sit on the other side of the room divider that separates the waiting area from the studio. They can hear everything that goes on.

I am forever cleaning the keys on my piano. Even if they don't have their hands down their pants in the lesson you never know if they did just before it!

lol...true

Most of my students have better manners than that...well except for one, who always passes gas at his lessons. I don't know if they can help it though...but ewwwww.

I always have them all wash their hands before the lesson, and if I see their hands in their mouth at all, they have to go wash again. Eventually they quit biting fingernails.sucking on fingers.picking nose.whatever else spreads germs!