One of the most frustrating things that a parent has to go through is dealing with their child’s hygiene.
There are a few years where their cleaning and bathing and brushing their teeth is under our control, but as they grow you can’t keep frog marching them to the bathroom to make sure that they brush their teeth for the correct length of time. You just have to trust that they’ve done it and trust that they don’t want the fall out of issues later on.
Unfortunately, not every child enjoys the transition and, let’s face it, kids get lazy about making their own beds – so imagine how lazy they can be about ensuring they’ve showered properly? Yeah, it can take some time for them to crack their schedule and there’s only so many times you want to remind them that not flossing could result in a trip to the pediatric dentist for dental work.
Hygiene doesn’t have to be an outright battle, though. By the time they’re teenagers, you may find that they get really lazy about their personal hygiene and you have to keep them in a routine without them feeling nagged. It’s a process, and there are techniques to do it without upsetting anyone. Below, you’ll find some of the habits your child should be getting into when it comes to their hygiene.
Washing Hair
Most of the time, young children can get away with hair washing around one to two times per week – depending on the level of food they’ve smeared into their hair. You don’t want them washing too much, as they can dry out their scalps and cause dandruff. When puberty takes hold, though, greasy hair could become a problem. Going for every other day may be better when that happens and buy the right shampoo for their hair type.
Showering
When they’re young, children either love or hate their bath. You can make the bath a fun place to be with toys and bubbles. As they get older, they may need chivvying into the bath every day, but you can always make it a 10 minute shower instead of a bath and they can be in and out quickly.
Teeth
Clean teeth and guns prevent the build-up of tartar and bad breath occurring. Cavities and heart disease can also be a result of bad oral hygiene. Make it a part of their daily routine, twice a day and you’ll have less trouble getting your children to brush correctly. There are apps on smartphones that can teach them how long to brush for, too, so that they are getting a thorough daily clean.
Nails
A breeding ground for bacteria, you need to teach your children how to take care of their nails properly. Brushing underneath them once a day before bedtime can help to keep dirt and grime at bay.
Children aren’t particularly smart about hygiene to begin with, but they’ll catch up. Take the time to teach them what they need to know, and you’ll enjoy a house that smells of roses!
