Teach Your Child Good Hygiene Habits
As a parent, it's your job to teach your child everything they need to know in order to grow into a happy and healthy adult. Good hygiene is a crucial component of overall health that can't be overlooked. The habits your child develops when they're young will likely follow them throughout their lives, so you should make an effort to instill good habits. Here are four things you can do to encourage proper hygiene:
1. Narrate the things you're doing while you care for them.
When your child is very small, you'll have to perform most of their hygiene care for them. Infants aren't able to wash themselves, brush their teeth, or floss on their own. However, you can begin teaching them by narrating your actions while you perform them. Talk to them about teeth brushing and why it's important. Talking to babies has been shown to aid their language acquisition skills, and children are often more perceptive than adults assume. You're teaching your child by doing this, even if they don't have the words to acknowledge it yet.
2. Teach them from age appropriate sources.
Reading is great for kids. Many kids have favorite books that they love to read again and again. Nonfiction books can help your child's brain grow. When you're trying to teach your child about hygiene, you'd do well to invest in a children's book on hygiene. There are books available for all ages, which feature age-appropriate information about your child's body and how it works. These books will describe basic hygiene and teach your child why it's important. This is a great way to teach your child why cleanliness matters.
3. Be consistent.
Children thrive on routines. You can encourage your child to shower, wash their face, and brush their teeth by making a routine they follow everyday. Consistency is key. Allowing your child to skip a day teaches them that hygiene is optional, and it will encourage bad habits. Make sure self care is nonnegotiable. Your child will grow up with good habits, and they'll thank you when they're adults.
4. Set a good example.
Kids learn from everything you do, as well as the things you say. When you tell them that personal hygiene is important, you need to also model that truth through your actions. Let your child see you taking care of your own body by washing your hands and face and flossing your teeth. Many children want to emulate their parents, so this will further instill good values.
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