When children begin to grow older, teaching them what to do and how to do is indeed challenging as they develop a habit of questioning or defying. Their curiosity often leads them to reach out for anything and everything that’s attractive in their sights. Although this is a part of growing up and a lot of times they learn by experimenting with such things, it’s not always safe for them at all times.
Things like the dirt around a corner, mud in the garden or even toys can be unhygienic and might lead to severe problems for the little one. Even food from outside can contribute to the same consequences. It is thus absolutely necessary that you inculcate healthy habits and maintain hygiene around the young ones to keep them healthy and safe from transmittable diseases.
If you’re wondering about how to maintain personal hygiene for kids, you’re literally on the right page. This article will help you understand personal hygiene for kids in detail and would also help you with some tips to help teach your kids the same. Let’s begin with the most important question!
Why Do Kids Need Personal Hygiene?
Making sure your kids are practising good hygiene habits can be harder than it seems. Key is to establish these health and hygiene practices when they’re young, so they grow up knowing how to take care of themselves and others. There are a few things parents can do on their part such as teaching children how to wash their hands correctly and ensuring that any sanitation issues in the household are taken care of.
The following are some common practices that may be of help in incorporating the best personal hygiene practices in kids:
4 Personal Hygiene Habits that All Children Must Follow
Food Hygiene Habits for Children
If food hygiene is not taken seriously, it might lead to ailments like food poisoning, diarrhoea, stomach aches or vomiting. As a parent, it is important that you take care of your child’s hygiene when preparing, serving or feeding food to your child.
When teaching them about how to be hygienic with food, you can begin with the basics like informing them why it is necessary to do so. Tell them how being unhygienic with food can lead germs and bacteria into their tummy and cause them troubles. It is also important that you model the right behaviour in front of them so that they can see and learn from you. For instance, you may prefer to wear an apron when you’re cooking or avoid coughing or sneezing while doing so. Modelling the right sanitization attributes is also necessary.
You would also want to teach your child about food storage hygiene such as not keeping the food open or where to store what in the refrigerator, etc.
Hand & Nail Hygiene Habits for Kids
The habit of washing hands before and after meals, after coming back home and after touching anything that might have germs is one of the best habits an individual can have from the hygiene perspective. The easiest way to develop these habits in your child is by showing them step-by-step demonstrations repeatedly over and over again.
Nail hygiene is another crucial aspect of hand hygiene. When we talk about children, grossly, it is common for most children to have a habit of chewing or biting nails. The germs can lead to serious health hazards. It is necessary to help them learn how to keep their nails short and clean and avoid chewing or biting them at any point.
Oral Hygiene Habits for Children
The key to avoid root canals and teeth uproots due to cavities at an early age is to begin with the right oral hygiene routine from a tender age. Brushing right twice a day, cleaning the tongue properly and gargling often can help keep bad breath and cavity problems at bay. Good oral hygiene also aids in speech development.
Regular dental visits, proper flossing once or twice a week and properly cleaning the teeth after eating sweets or chocolates can go a long way in keeping them orally healthy.
Bathing Hygiene Habits for Kids
Often ignored, teaching your children to clean themselves the right way when in the shower is essential. Once they’ve grown up to a certain age, it’s hard to teach them how to clean what parts of the body. Thus, if you build a habit of the right way to clean themselves while showering, that’ll help them a lot.
The right way to clean the ears, the groin area, armpits, and the back is essential as unhygienic conditions there over a while can lead to infections and bad odour.
Apart from the above mentioned hygiene tips, you can always invent and set rules and habits that you deem necessary to keep your child healthy. It is important that while teaching your kids, you stay mindful and practice what you preach. Explain to them the reasons, feed their curiosity and avoid comparing them at all costs. These things will help you much through the process.
