Kids personal hygiene
Good personal hygiene will help your kids stay healthy, ward off illnesses, and build self-awareness.
Start hygiene instruction at an early age so that they start absorbing the correct ways. Wipe down your child’s hands often as the fingers spend a lot of time in or near the mouth . Wipe their hands after changing their diapers or before eating, brush their teeth and or gums before bed. This helps the process and slowly teaches them as they grow and start the process for themselves.
Brushing teeth
You may begin brushing your baby’s teeth and gums the moment the first tooth comes through. They can brush their own teeth after a few years , however, in the beginning its important to watch them through the process .
Bathing
You’ll be giving your baby baths regularly, but by about age 5, they should be able to handle this task on their own. As they’re growing and you’re supervising bath time, you should take the opportunity to teach about washing all the different body parts.
You can also use this time to teach them how to wash their hair without getting suds in their eyes — and what to do if they do.
Nail hygiene
You’ll clip your child’s nails when they’re a baby, but as they grow older, you can help them care for their own nails. Encourage your children to wash under their nails at each shower — a fun nail brush will help. Then, sit down with them weekly after a shower for a trim. Your nails are softer and clip more easily after a shower.
By age 7, most children should be up for the task alone.
Effects of poor personal hygiene
Poor personal hygiene habits, can lead to side effects, like body odor, and or greasy skin.
They can also lead to more troublesome or serious problems.
Good personal hygiene habits are directly related to less illnesses and better health.
Should you not wash your hands frequently, you may easily transfer germs and or bacteria to your mouth or eyes. This spreading of germs may lead to any number of problems including bacteria infection and or problems such as pink eye.
Not brushing your teeth may lead to numerous teeth issues including plaque buildup. Poor dental health will not only cause teeth discoloring , but will lead to cavities and teeth loss .
Poor dental care is also a risk factor for several serious health issues, including heart disease.
Poor hygiene habits may effect a number of issues , including a person’s self esteem . Looking and feeling presentable will give you the confidence in yourself, and a sense of pride in your appearance.
Prevention of other conditions may be prevented and the risk will be greatly minimized by practicing good personal hygiene.
Creating a personal hygiene routine
It is important that one ensures that a routine and or pattern of good hygiene is enforced at a early age .Habits created at an early age with children will install better personal hygiene. These habits will help a child develop a good routine for the latter years in life.
Set reminders
If you can’t remember to do things like shower, wash your hair, clip your nails, or brush your teeth, make a hygiene dairy or make a game linked to making it fun time. The constant reminders will ensure that the activity is part of your day, and over time, the kids begin to do it themselves.
Use stickers
Hang a reminder in the bathroom to wash your hands. Put a little sign by the in the kitchen as a reminder of the action to wash your hands before eating. These signs can help jog their memory and improve their habits.
Practice makes perfect
For all of us it takes time to learn a new habit.
Starting the habit at the beginning of a week is a good thing to do as it gets the mind to start counting the progression which gives a measurable time span . Practice it for a few weeks and then embrace the achievement and look forward to the next goal. . When you feel comfortable with it, add a new one.
Overtime, you’ll establish the habits for the kids and the whole family .
Author: Dr Bruce J Mac Murray (DBA)
Director Health.co.za
