5 Tips to Teach Children About Personal Hygiene
As an adult, you know the importance of personal hygiene. It keeps you clean and presentable, prevents any nasty odors, and stops the spread of infectious diseases. For most people, personal hygiene is part of their daily routine that is so habitual they don’t even have to think about it.
But if you have young children, you need to make sure that they understand how important it is to be clean and hygienic. Kids love getting dirty, and whenever they go to school or play with other children, they are coming into contact with all kinds of dirt and germs. When they are infants, it is the parent’s responsibility to wash and bathe them, but as they start getting older, it is something they need to learn how to take care of themselves.
If your child develops unhygienic habits or lives in dirty conditions, there is a good chance they will grow up being susceptible to a range of different illnesses. Instilling good habits into them from a young age will help to stay fit and healthy and maintain a wholesome personality and body image.
Here are a few tips to help you teach your children about personal hygiene.
Food
Anyone who has ever seen a young child eating knows that food hygiene is not at the top of their list of concerns. But poor hygiene when it comes to food can lead to food poisoning or even more harmful conditions such as cholera and typhoid. It is important to maintain good habits while preparing and eating food, and you should start by teaching your child the basics. Talk to them about germs and how they can spread from dirty hands to food and then to their mouth. Always make sure they clean their hands before and after eating until it becomes a habit that you don’t need to tell them to do. You could even ask them to help you in the kitchen to show them how you store and cook food correctly.
Hands
Hand washing is not just important when you’re about to eat food. Children come into contact with all kinds of dirty things such as toilets, mud, pets, friends, and their own bodily fluids. Give them a practical lesson on how to wash their hands thoroughly, with warm water and soap.
Body
When it comes to bathtime, hygiene is extremely important. This is where they clean their entire body to keep it healthy and presentable. They will need to know how to take care of their skin and wash their hair properly. Take extra care to ensure they understand the importance of properly cleaning their private areas to avoid the dreaded “smegma” and prevent infections.
Health
When flu season rolls around, young children are much more susceptible to colds and viruses. Take some time to teach them about the importance of preventing the spread of germs. Show them how to use a tissue to cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze and to avoid other children when they are sick.
Mouth
As soon as their adult teeth poke through, your child will only have one set of teeth to last them the rest of their life. This is why it’s so important to teach them the basics of dental hygiene from a young age. Make sure they brush twice a day for two minutes and take them for a dental checkup every six months.