How to Teach a Child Proper Hygiene
Children are germ magnets. They lack an adult's abhorrence of unsanitary behaviors, such as putting their fingers in their mouths, coughing into their hands and picking their noses. Many would prefer to jump in a mud puddle than a bath, or would rather rub their hands in the dirt than under a faucet of running water. Unfortunately, this lack of interest in hygiene increases your child's risk of illness. To protect your child's health it is critical to teach her proper hygiene habits.
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Instructions
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Teach your child proper hand washing techniques. Little hands easily spread illness-causing germs. Remind him to wash his hands before and after eating, after going to the bathroom, after sneezing or coughing, after playing with a pet and after emptying the trash. Show him how to lather the soap and scrub for at least 15 seconds under warm water. Have him clean between fingers and under nails, which can trap germs. Dry his hands thoroughly once they are clean. Use hand sanitizer to kill germs when soap and water aren't available.
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Teach your child proper dental hygiene to protect her teeth from cavities. Have her brush twice a day with a soft-bristled brush using toothpaste that contains fluoride. Demonstrate how to reach her back teeth and brush her tongue. If she is under age 5, help her brush and floss her teeth. Avoid sugary foods, sweet drinks such as soda and juice, and constant snacking; these dietary behaviors can encourage cavities. Take her for her first dentist appointment shortly after she turns 1 year of age and continue with twice-yearly visits to teach her the importance of monitoring her dental health.
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Educate your child regarding good bathing hygiene. Encourage him to bathe daily, particularly on hot days when he has become sweaty or put on sunscreen. Show him how to correctly wash his face, ears, armpits, feet and genital area. If he is uncircumcised, explain how he should gently pull the foreskin back from the glans, rinse the area with soap and warm water, and carefully fold the foreskin over the head of the penis.
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Advise your child about how to properly clean her hair. Encourage her to brush her hair each day to remove dead skin cells and hair. Instruct her to comb her hair before washing it. Show her how to de-tangle her hair by gently combing from the bottom of the hair up. Teach her how to wash her own hair by the time she turns 7. Help her figure out how frequently her hair needs to be washed. Wash it every other day, and encourage daily washing on hot summer days or washing once a week if her scalp becomes itchy or dry. Show her how to condition her hair if it is dry, very curly or long. Take her for a hair trim every four to six weeks to remove split ends.
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References
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