5 Ways to Help Build Healthy Hygiene Habits in your Children
It’s important to instill good hygiene into your kids from a young age. As your child grows and becomes more self-reliant and independent, it is your duty as a caring parent to teach and build healthy hygiene habits so that they are well informed and educated on how to keep clean.
Allowing them to grow up with these essential habits and routines, helps them carry them into their young adult years and lead a very healthy and self-sufficient life.
Here are some simple ways you can instill these habits into your children to ensure their cleanliness for years to come.
Oral hygiene
Good oral hygiene by maintaining clean teeth and gums can help in the prevention of a wide range of health issues, such as cavities, bad breath and heart disease later in life. Your child should get into the routine of brushing and flossing twice a day at least, if not after every meal. There are specially designed toothbrush kits for children to carry around and take to school with them so that they can maintain their oral health at school and throughout the entire day. The recommended time of brushing young children’s teeth is two minutes, according to a Pediatric dentist in Roseville, VA.
Hair washing
The recommended average amount of washing your children’s hair is usually two or three times a week. Over washing their hair can lead to dry scalps and increase the risk of dandruff. This changes as young children move into their early teenage years and hit puberty, the effects of hormonal changes can make scalps more prone to grease. This may increase the amount of hair washing to keep hair clean, fresh and smelling good.
Regularly bathing
Bath time can be the most exciting or most dreaded time of the day for kids. Turn it into a fun activity by incorporating bubbles, bath toys and exciting games into this daily routine. Aside from the fun, it is still important to show your children how to clean themselves properly and effectively, scrubbing each body part with warm soapy water and a washcloth.
Hand-washing
Washing their hands is an integral part of a child’s good hygiene habits. They need to get into the regular routine of washing their hands before and after meals, after playing in dirt or petting pets, and after sneezing or coughing to eliminate the risk of spreading germs. Teach your kids how to wash their hands effectively in between their fingers and scrub the entire surface, front and back with warm water and soap.
Nail cleaning
Bacteria love to live in nails. These germs can easily spread and transfer to anything you child touches, including their eyes, nose, and mouth. Cleaning your kid’s nails daily with a good nail brush helps eliminate this risk of built up germs. Regularly clipping your child’s nails, every week or so, also helps reduce the risk of bacteria build up and any potential painful ingrown nails.
