Brush your teeth. Wash your face. Scrub your nails. Comb your hair. The list of personal hygiene needs we throw at our kids goes on and on, and the number of times we have to remind them of these things is probably even longer! Have you ever sent your child into the bathroom to wash his hands, only to have him emerge 5 seconds later with very dry hands; the kind you know never saw a drop of water? Teaching children to care for their own personal needs, and do it well, is something parents often struggle with as their children move toward more independence. Thankfully there are a few tricks parents can use to help their kids learn these necessary skills, make them positive habits, and do them without us screeching in the background.
Basic Hygiene for Kids – Creating Good Habits
There are no magic ages when our children should have hygiene skills mastered, but from the time they are babies we can get them used to the habits and routines of personal hygiene. Don’t wait until your child can completely master the task independently before allowing him to try. Allow them to do the activity first, such as brushing teeth or combing hair, and then you can do a final run-through after they have had their opportunity. The only way they will learn how to care for their own needs is to do them.
Your children won’t form habits, for anything, overnight. Research shows that it takes 66 days of repeating a behavior for it to become a habit, programmed into our brains. Not only will it take on average 66 consistent days for our kids to learn a habit, but the action needs to occur within the similar setting. Use this knowledge to help your kids master basic hygiene skills.
Teeth Brushing
Start Young. Evening babies have dental care needs, and dentists recommend using a wet washcloth to wipe out the inside of your baby’s mouth daily, then add in a soft toothbrush when the first tooth appears. As your child gets older, encourage independent brushing by making it a natural step. As soon as breakfast is finished, the teeth get brushed, before anything else happens. Make certain it is a priority to keep that routine, as it offers the best way for your child to learn the habit of doing it himself.
Bathing
Again, routine is key. Young children don’t need daily baths unless they become visibly dirty or your just know they need a good washing. Dry winter months can be hard on children’s skin, so over-washing can actually cause more problems like extremely dry skin that is cracked and painful.
Keep a routine of bathing every other night for younger children, and at least once a day for tweens and teens, more if they are involved in sports or physical work. For children old enough to be bathing on their own, but young enough to space out under the shower head and forget to ever touch the soap bar, use a top-down sequence reminder for them. Remind them that there are 3 basic tasks they need to do – 1. Wash their hair, 2. Wash their face, 3. Wash their body. If you start this washing habit with them when you are still bathing them in the sink, you will find that it is easier for them to remember. You can even place a time on the counter and they can see that each 2 minutes they should be able to move from one to the next.
Hand Washing
Cold and flu season always gives parents shudders as we think about where our children’s fingers are throughout the day, then see them stick those fingers in their eyes, up their noses, or suck on them as they gobble their snacks. Make it a rule from baby-hood about hand washing and establish those habits early.
- Hands get washed before any food is eaten.
- Hands get washed when you change locations, from outside to in, from the store to home, etc.
- Children can use instant hand sanitizer when on the go, but just remind them to let the cleaner dry before touching anything.
- Give your child a song to sing or a phrase to repeat X number of times. Happy Birthday sung 2 times, the ABC’s, or other comparable length songs will help them establish the right amount of time for scrubbing.
The Extras
As your child moves into the years around puberty you will notice a need for deodorant, special face washes, and perhaps cologne or perfume. Don’t wait for your child to come to you asking for these supplies. Make sure that even before they really need them you have them ready for them in the bathroom closet.
Your child won’t learn how to take care of her own personal hygiene needs if she doesn’t have the opportunity to do it for herself. Once she has made the attempt, you can help finish the job, but always make sure you are giving her the chance to take the lead. Most of all be consistent with your expectations and keep a routine going – for more than a few weeks. It will most likely take at least 2 months of regular and consistent attempts before your child is ready to fly solo. And you’ll still probably have to keep a watchful eye out for skimping on the soap!
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