Teaching kids good hygiene habits is important for their health and well-being. However, teaching kids to do these things well and getting them to remember them on their own can be difficult. Building good hygiene habits can be something that takes years and this can be frustrating for parents, especially when children experience setbacks or become resistant to habits that they used to perform readily. Over time, however, these things will get better. Here are some tips on how to encourage better hygiene habits in kids:
Start Young
Start teaching your kids good hygiene habits at a young age. Before your children can start learning to brush their own teeth, you will have to brush their teeth and gums for them. You will also be the one washing their hands and giving them baths.
As soon as they are able to understand basic instructions, you can begin teaching them to brush their own teeth and wash their own hands. You will still need to help them and finish the job for them each time until they are able to do it correctly on their own, which for many children doesn’t happen until age six or older. Even after that point, it’s a good idea to check on their technique often.
Use Technology
Consider looking into the purchase of an electric toothbrush for your children. Not only can electric toothbrushes encourage children to brush more often and better, but they can also help their teeth stay healthier because they are easier to use and more effective. Talk to your dentist or read online reviews to help you purchase the best electric toothbrush for children.
You can also use timers and apps to help make toothbrushing and hand washing more fun and effective. Many children’s movies and shows have episodes and apps teaching children about hygiene and encouraging them to stay clean and healthy.
Make It Fun
Encourage your kids to have fun while practicing good hygiene habits. Use songs, games, and other interactive activities to make hygiene more enjoyable. Singing or playing a special song is a good way to make toothbrushing more fun while also giving you the chance to oversee the brushing job, making sure that your kids brush for a long enough time and in the correct way. You can also teach your children to sing the ABC song or “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” while they are washing their hands to help them to wash for the correct length of time. Taking toys into the bath and playing together is a long-standing favorite way for toddlers and preschoolers to get clean.
Lead by Example
Show your kids how to practice good hygiene habits by leading by example. Let them see you brushing frequently, flossing, washing your hands, and taking care of yourself. When they are little, let them know when you are taking a shower so they know that adults, too, partake in these habits. If you wash hands and brush teeth together, children will be more likely to enjoy the process and will feel included.
Teach Proper Hand Washing
Make sure your kids know how to properly wash their hands, including using soap and warm water, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, and drying thoroughly. Learning how to wash well is something that you will have to work on over time. Don’t assume that once you have taught the skill, it will be retained. Like most habits and skills that children learn, they often need refreshers. One of the easiest ways to keep up with this is by going over it again when you are out together. When you use public restrooms, you are often washing hands together and it’s a good time to go over the correct technique and watch to see how they are doing with the habit.
Explain Why It’s Important
Help your kids understand why good hygiene habits are important, and how they can help prevent the spread of germs and illnesses. Children, just like adults, are more likely to put care and effort into something they understand. Explain to your children that having clean skin and teeth can help you to stay healthy and that germs can make you sick. Have your dentist explain what can happen if you don’t wash your teeth well, and talk to your doctor about how frequent bathing can keep your skin healthy.
Hand-washing is one of the most important parts of hygiene, and children can easily understand that germs pass from one person to another. Consider playing a game by smearing something, such as jelly, pudding, or another sticky substance on one person’s hands and then have everyone shake hands, open doors, etc. to show how easily the stickiness can spread to other people. Explain that germs pass from person to person in the same way.
Create Routines
Encourage your kids to make good hygiene habits a part of their daily routines, such as washing their hands before meals and after using the bathroom. Connecting these habits to other things they already do can be an easy way to make them stick. For example, connect hand washing to eating so that your children develop the habit of always washing before meals. You should also connect handwashing to using the bathroom and blowing your nose.
You can create a routine around nightly baths and toothbrushing so that the routine is consistent and the child always knows when these things will happen. This can help reduce friction around bathing or brushing in children that are resistant.
Provide the Tools
Make sure your kids have access to the tools they need to practice good hygiene, such as soap, towels, toothpaste, and tissues. If your children are still small, you may need to provide a stool so that they can reach the sink. Consider placing hygiene tools in a drawer or lower cabinet, rather than on the back of the counter or in a medicine cabinet, so that they are easier to access.
Reinforce Good Behavior
Praise and reinforce good hygiene behavior, such as washing hands without being reminded or covering their mouth when they cough. Studies show that reinforcing good behavior is more powerful and impactful than criticizing negative behavior. If your child struggles with these habits, consider doing things together regularly until they are no longer resistant. Habits such as brushing teeth, washing faces, and washing hands after using the bathroom are often learned by example in toddlers and preschoolers.
Final Thoughts
Remember, teaching good hygiene habits takes time and patience. Children don’t learn things once and then do them consistently. Rather, they will often go through times when they need to relearn how to do things like wash or brush correctly, and how to cover their mouths when they cough. They will often need to be reminded to wash their hands and take baths. Keep encouraging your kids and leading by example, and over time they will develop good hygiene habits that will last a lifetime.