Discussing personal hygiene is something most people prefer to avoid. After all, it can be tricky to let someone know that his hygiene is lacking without giving offense. In school, teachers often find themselves having to instruct students on the importance of good hygiene. Children with poor hygiene often suffer from health problems. They may be ostracized and ridiculed by their peers, as well. To avoid damaging the student's self-esteem, a teacher must broach the subject of personal hygiene carefully.
Step 1
Demonstrate proper hygiene techniques. All students benefit from information about proper hygiene and its associated health benefits. Demonstrating proper hand washing, tooth brushing and other hygiene techniques ensures that every student understands the basics of good hygiene. When hygiene is a regular part of the health curriculum, a child whose hygiene is lacking may be able to correct the problem for herself without embarrassment.
Step 2
Speak privately to the student if he consistently comes to school without showering or brushing his hair and teeth or with other hygiene problems. Explain how bad hygiene affects the student personally, both socially and in terms of his health, then ask if the student would like to share any concerns or problems he has encountered with hygiene. Help the student brainstorm possible solutions.
Step 3
Schedule a meeting with the parents if a student does not seem to get the message that her hygiene needs improvement. The school nurse may be able to offer valuable insights during this meeting on the health effects of the specific hygiene problems the student faces.
Step 4
Provide supplies that promote good hygiene. Some students simply may not have access to hygiene products, such as shampoo, deodorant or a hair brush at home. Stock a drawer with basic hygiene supplies, and assure students that they are welcome to take what they need. Check the drawer periodically, and replenish supplies that have run out.
Step 5
Encourage and remind all students to wash their hands before meals and after using the bathroom. Especially during cold and flu season, provide extra tissues in the classroom, and demonstrate the proper way for students to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. Encourage students to keep a small packet of tissues in their desks and to dispose of used tissues promptly.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are unsure how to speak to a student about good hygiene, ask a kindergarten teacher for advice. They often deal with these issues, as young students are not always consistent in taking care of their own hygiene.
- Never point out a student's poor hygiene publicly. Always address specific hygiene problems privately with the student.
