Children need to learn good personal hygiene very early in life. In addition to making them more socially acceptable, they should practice cleanliness to stay healthy. If they start early, they are more likely to develop a habit of good hygiene that will serve them well through life. According to Dr. Lynn Smitherman, an assistant pediatrics professor at Wayne State University, good hygiene will help them prevent from spreading illness. The best time to begin is from birth.
First Habits
When the child is first born, you will change her diaper as soon as it is dirty or wet. Not long after birth, you will begin to bathe her, at first with a sponge and soon afterward in a baby tub. This gets her in the habit of being clean, and she will probably let you know when her diaper needs changing in the future. Before a baby is old enough for a toothbrush, wipe her teeth clean with a wet cloth or gauze to remove sticky residue and prevent the beginning of cavities.
Facts
Personal hygiene is necessary for all age groups, but particularly for children, who play in groups and handle each others' toys and equipment. If they learn good hygiene early in life, they will be more likely to carry the habits into adulthood. Teaching a child to wash her hands after using the potty will establish a practice she will probably continue. Brushing her teeth will get her used to the feeling of a clean mouth. According to Dr. Mary Hayes, a pediatric dentist in Chicago, approximately 20 percent of toddlers have tooth decay that began when they were one or two years old.
Significance
Teaching children to wash their hands after playing outside, before eating and before touching their faces can help prevent many diseases and illnesses from spreading. Brushing their teeth at least two times daily can help prevent cavities, according to Dr. Hayes. When they are preteens, they should brush their teeth at least three times per day. Other hygiene routines, such as bathing, washing the hair and wearing clean clothes when they are children, will help establish lifetime habits.
Benefits
In addition to the health benefits of good hygiene, there are other advantages, such as social and self-esteem. If a child makes a habit of being clean, she is less likely to be made fun of by other children. She will feel much better about herself and have more friends, which will give her a better sense of herself.
Considerations
When teaching good hygiene, the activity should be appropriate for the age of the child. Before children are capable of washing behind their ears and their necks, their parents will want to bathe them. Starting babies and toddlers with child-friendly toothbrushes that have extra soft bristles and a fruit-flavored toothpaste will make brushing their teeth a more pleasant activity. Until they can reach the running water, a step stool will make washing their hands much easier.
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