Get Your Kids Excited About Personal Hygiene Care with These 3 Tips

If left to their own devices, most children do not give much thought to their personal hygiene. It is just not as interesting as exploring the world or playing with a new toy. Interrupting your child’s playtime to force them into the drudgery of cleaning themselves makes hygiene time a dreaded activity for both parents and children alike. This does not have to be the case. You can get your kids on board with taking care of their appearance and make them excited to hop in the bath or brush their teeth with these tips.

Incorporate Toys

Kids love any activity where they are allowed to play. Make their hygiene routine fun by adding kid friendly accessories. Bath time instantly becomes more fun with toys. Almost every toy store carries fun and colorful bath toys that have kids begging to take a bath. Your kids will love brushing their teeth if their toothbrush features their favorite cartoon character. You can also purchase toothpaste in fun colors. Add even more excitement by turning their personal care routine into a game. Kids often respond to competition and the desire to win. Be creative and allow your child to get involved by asking them what would make their hygiene habits more fun.

Teach the Facts

In addition to making the hygiene process more inviting with fun toys and games, you can also appeal to the logical side of your child’s brain. Parents of young children know that at times it feels like using facts and logic to persuade your child is a losing game, but the message often sticks in ways you don’t even realize. Pick up some books about the importance of hygiene from your local library, and read them with your child. According to Dr. Daniel Bade DDS, healthy baby teeth allow for clear pronunciation and speech habits and help your child maintain good nutrition.

Give Rewards

When it comes to teaching your child personal care, sometimes bribery really works. Setting up a reward system that encourages daily hygiene practices with treats is a great way to get your child to want to stay clean. Different children respond to different types of reward systems. Some parents opt to use a chart to mark off days the child willingly took care of their own hygiene. If your child needs more instant gratification, it may be best to give a small reward directly after each hygiene activity.

Follow these three tips and you may be surprised when bath time turns from a battle into bonding time. No matter how difficult it may be to get your child to cooperate with hygiene time, don’t give up. Keep trying and in time the routines will become more habitual and less stressful.

Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.