Here’s How To Teach Your Kids Personal Hygiene

Teach Your Kids Personal Hygiene
Teach Your Kids Personal Hygiene

When it comes to personal hygiene, kids are far from perfect, but as parents, we must teach and encourage them to practice personal hygiene as our overall health is determined by our personal hygiene. Maintaining good hygiene throughout your daily life can prevent many health conditions associated with poor hygiene.

In the course of growing up and experiencing hormonal changes, your child’s hygiene should improve. Ideally, they should have a solid grounding in good hygiene and physical care before reaching puberty. Below are a few tips that will help you teach your kids about hygiene and maintaining a healthy body.

Start early 

Start them young by teaching the importance of hygiene and grooming – brushing their teeth, washing hands before and after using the toilet, taking a shower on their own, e.t.c. Let them start doing these tasks on their own when they are 3 to 5 years old. Then, gradually you can let them know what they can do better or encourage them when they are doing well.

Model what you teach

Please keep your personal hygiene up and be open about it, as it is an effective way to model good hygiene for your kids. Your kid is likely to copy you and your acts, believing that skipping showers or forgetting to brush teeth is acceptable. It is more likely that your kids will imitate your behaviour if you set the standards.

Make personal hygiene an everyday responsibility

Discuss the importance of personal hygiene with your children. You may want to help your child create a chart where they can check off a task as they complete it. In this way, they will learn to take responsibility for themselves and gain a sense of independence.

Talk about consequences

Make sure your children know the importance of routine and the consequences of failing to do so. For instance, you may want to remind them to wash their hands before leaving the bathroom as failing to do it might result in spreading germs or causing illness. Similarly, improper brushing of the teeth may lead to tooth decay, bad breath, and cavities.

Run a check frequently

Be sure to check in and monitor your child’s habits regularly regardless of their maturity level. Good habits require time, practice and consistency, while their destruction is instantaneous. Make sure you reward and motivate your kids for keeping up good habits, even if they find it hard or bored at times.

Reward good behaviour

Encourage your kids and reward their good behaviour with goodies like cupcakes, rompers, video games, etc.… However, be sure to avoid bribing them to follow routines as this can create power struggles that can do more harm than good.

Learning happens in many different ways for children. For example, you may teach your child all about personal hygiene with the help of books and videos available. Run your research and make sure that your preferred sources are child-friendly.

Bottomline

Personal health is crucial as it impacts physical and mental health. Maintaining your overall health and well-being is part of learning to love yourself. Introducing your children to the importance of self-love and self-care at an early age will help them feel confident and comfortable as they grow up.