Posted on October 31, 2009 in Childcare Basics, latest news
Personal hygiene is not something that comes by birth to kids. No parent can tolerate their kids being untidy and unhealthy. As you teach your kid on how to read a book, how to ride a cycle or how to swim, the same way you also need to teach your kids on how to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Kids falling ill indicates missing school and high medicals bills, but if the kids are taught personal hygiene in the beginning itself, then there would be no issue of health at all.
Some of the basic things that a child has to be taught are:
- Proper way of brushing their teeth
- Wash their hands before and after meal
- They should take bath everyday
- Never allow them to put their fingers in their mouth without washing their hands
While practising, a parent has to be with the child to guide and teach them these skills in a proper manner. Set an example by washing your hands, brushing your teeth twice daily, combing your hair and practicing good habits in front of your child. This is an effective way to teach consistency in good habits.
Keep repeating the things in front of your kid, he should learn by seeing you, and if you go unnoticed, try doing it again and again.
Proper hand wash can prevent the spread of illness and germs in the body. But how will a child know, for how long he is supposed to wash his hands. Sometimes they might just splash and go away, but a proper hand wash is using the soap for at-least fifteen seconds before rinsing.
When it comes to brushing, teach them how to brush all their teeth and how to gargle, but brushing shouldn’t go on for long, as it can also lead to a dentist chair.
Some kids are very smart, they sometimes come with questions like “where are the germs i cant see them”? then you might go blank and you may not be able to give an answer for it. But if you don’t answer them, they will not be ready to follow the instructions. So to avoid this situation, remind them about the stomach ache they had, or the cold they caught while playing with already infected kids.
You don’t want to be like a teacher to your kid by yelling at him all the time to brush and to wash hands, yet you want him to make an habit of those things. Then why don’t you make this learning experience ‘fun’ instead of pressurizing on him.
Let your kid pick the soap, tooth paste and toilet kit by his choice. Getting a kit of his choice will make him happy and realize ownership and responsibility. And he will enjoy doing all those things.
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