Answering for a Child

I was overhearing a conversation in the two year old classroom when I heard a teacher ask a child, "Did you wash your hands?" there was a pause and then the other teacher said, "No he hasn't washed." I have had this interaction hundreds of times, I'm sure most teachers and parents have. I got reflecting as I do on the role of respect in this discussion. I want to respect children's ability to answer for themselves but I also find it crucial that they was their hands. Further what about when a child is not verbal. We talk to and ask questions of our babies yet they cannot answer and often others answer for them, perhaps that's where this came from.

I considered the other possibilities that might be more respectful. 

1.) Ask the child to answer the teacher who asked them a question by saying, "Joey, Ms. Liz asked you if you washed. You can say, 'Not yet, I'm on my way.'" - This is also a respectful way to talk with nonverbal children and would give you a chance to give them a simple word they could say. 

2.) Wait for the child to answer, this is probably most respectful for a verbal child and comfortable adult. If the other adult looks to you, you can use the process above, bringing it back to the child. If the child lies then you have an opportunity to teach. Most often young children are playing with lying you could say kindly, "I don't think that's true Joey. You haven't washed yet, you can tell Ms. Liz, "I haven't washed yet." when she reminds you to wash your hands."