As your child grows up, they will need to be able to take care of themselves and look after their personal hygiene. Bacteria and germs are all around us so it’s important that they remember to wash their hands before and after eating and when coming into contact with unclean surfaces. While it may seem small and insignificant, remembering to do so can stop them and those around them falling ill. Below is some guidance on how to teach early years about personal hygiene.
1) Reminders
To teach your child about hygiene, remind them to wash their hands and clean after themselves. Slowly it will become a habit and they will remember to do so all by themselves.
2) Understanding Germs
Other than nagging, it’s important to educate children on why we must stay clean. Bacteria and viruses can spread easily and make us ill. To help your child understand this better, you can compare them to insects. The only difference is that these bugs can’t be seen. When sneezing and coughing, there are hundreds that we propel which is why we must wash our hands.
3) Bathing
Bath time can be a nightmare for some parents. To get your child in the tub and co-operating, you might want to introduce bath toys to keep them occupied. Also, you can use it as an opportunity to teach your child how to wash themselves by giving them a small sponge and getting them to scrub the other half of their body.
4) Using the Toilet
They will also need to learn how to use the toilet. This is something that you will need to go through when potty training your toddler and why it’s important that they wash their hands afterwards.
5) Get a Small Stool
To make things easier, you may want to look for a smaller basin for your child or stool which they can use to reach the sink and wash their hands by themselves.
