How to Make Hygiene Important to Kids

Personal hygiene may not be one of those issues that kids worry about much. As a parent, it̵7;s important to instill responsible personal hygiene habits in your child to ensure that she takes care of herself properly. Before you can expect exemplary hygiene habits, however, you must teach your child the value of staying clean. Once she understands the importance, you̵7;ve taken big step toward independent hygiene.

Instructions

    • 1

      Discuss bathing with your child. Taking a shower or a bath will enable your child to wash her entire body. Experts with the American Academy of Dermatology recommend that children between the ages of 6 and 11 bathe once or twice each week. If children become dirty or sweaty or go swimming, they should bathe, regardless of the number of times they've bathed in a week. Children over 11 should bathe daily.

    • 2

      Provide information about additional basic hygiene. Basic hygiene also includes washing the hair, brushing teeth twice each day and washing hands. Your child should wash her hair whenever she takes a bath or shower. Children should wash hands after playing outdoors, before eating and after engaging in messy activities, such as painting or working with modeling clay. Encourage your youngster to sing a short children̵7;s song while brushing her teeth and washing her hands to ensure that she brushes or washes long enough, advises the Bradley Hospital website.

    • 3

      Talk about the connection between good hygiene and good physical and emotional health. For example, brushing teeth twice each day keeps the teeth clean, which can help reduce tooth decay and bad breath. Keeping the body clean removes bacteria that can cause body odors, which enhances emotional health.

    • 4

      Set a positive example of good hygiene for your child to emulate. Take daily showers, wash your hands frequently, keep your hair clean and brush your teeth at least twice a day. As your child notices you devoting time to good hygiene, she may be more likely to follow your example.

    • 5

      Mention any hygiene issues you may be experiencing with your child. For example, if your child resists bathing and you̵7;ve noticed some body odor and greasy hair, talk about these issues in a calm and supportive manner. Ask your child why she doesn̵7;t want to take a shower, and listen to what she tells you, advises educator Sara Bean, writing for the Empowering Parents website. Depending on what she tells you, help work through the situation by explaining the benefits of hygiene. This could be especially important if you think that peers might make negative comments about a lack of hygiene.

    • 6

      Make an incentive chart to help instill good hygiene. Assign a point for every act of good hygiene your child performs. After your child earns a specific number of points, award a prize or participate in a desired activity with her.

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