Basic hygiene measures aim at promoting and maintaining good health. The necessary routines are most effectively learned and adopted during childhood. These key findings form the basis for the educational programme "Hygiene Tips for Kids" which was initiated at the Department of Hygiene and Public Health at Bonn University under the auspices of WHO Europe in 2003. The programme addresses children, teachers and parents and offers a range of materials and activities tailored to the specific needs of the target groups based on expert advice. The objective is to exert a long-lasting, positive influence on the performance of hygiene routines. Campaigns are usually directed at pre-school, kindergarten and primary school settings, with the public health service personnel playing a crucial role in coordinating and implementing the various activities. Evaluation of a campaign in the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has proven a positive effect on hand washing routines in pre-school as well as in the domestic setting. Moreover, Hygiene Tips for Kids has a sustained positive effect on the cooperation and communication between public health authorities and teachers, children and their parents. Teachers implement their own ideas within a framework of standardised information to suit their local needs. A long-term goal would be the obligatory integration of a sensible health education programme in the syllabus of pre-school, kindergarten and primary schools.