Helping Kids Master Good Hygiene

Good personal hygiene is essential at any age. But when kids are young, parents do everything for them. By the time they are in school, however, it's a whole new ball game. Kids can begin taking on hygiene tasks themselves. But they will still need a little guidance in order to master it!

Good Hygiene Habits: Keeping Kids Clean

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hand washing is one of the most effective ways to stop diseases from spreading. It is also one of the most overlooked ways. Good hygiene issomething that children need to be taught; unfortunately they aren't born with it. From helping to stay healthy to beating bad smells, good hygiene habits provide plenty of benefits! Here are some parenting tips for helping your kids stay clean:

• Discuss the importance of good hygiene and what it includes (e.g., washing hands before handling food, brushing teeth, bathing, etc.). Kids need to know why they should care about hygiene, and it has to be beyond just stopping the stink, because kids often find that funny, not fearful!
• Get your child on a routine that includes hygiene, so he gets in the habit of doing it. You can do this by using a behavior routine chart and listing everything he needs to do to have good hygiene.
• Make sure you have hand washing rules in your house, such as after using the restroom, before meals, when kids come in from playing or school, etc.
• Always set a good example. Kids pay attention to what their parents and caretakers do.
• Set up rewards for following a routine regularly.

In order to have a healthy body, it is essential to establish good hygiene habits. Discuss the importance of hygiene with your child. Make it a priority, be consistent, and your child will master the hygiene monster!