Teaching children proper hygiene is important on a number of different levels. It can help them avoid germs and remain healthier and it prepares them for self-care and how to take care of themselves when they are on their own. Proper hygiene can help to boost self-esteem and prevent kids from being teased by their peers.
Considerations
A child who grows up learning proper hygiene at home can better fit in as he grows up. Childhood habits translate to good habits during adolescence when hygiene becomes even more important. Avoiding acne and looking good are important issues for teens. With a history of proper hygiene in their background, they can more easily make the transition with little or no effort.
Function
Most illnesses attack children while they are in school where other kids spread their germs. Children spread germs from their mouths, noses and hands. They need to be taught to wash their hands before eating and to not put foreign objects in their mouths that could carry germs. Children who are well-versed in proper hygiene also don't spread as many germs because they know how to blow their noses and cover their mouths when they cough.
Effects
Children eventually begin to understand the effects of poor hygiene when they smell their dirty socks or another child tells them they stink. Children notice smells in other people and can be educated about their own hygiene when they notice it. Children do not usually have body odor from sweat until their hormones begin raging at puberty, according to doctors at the Children, Youth and Women's Health Service of South Australia, but they can pick up smells from their anuses, from environmental pollution, food and other dirt.
Significance
Children learn early what it means to look nice. They enjoy compliments and looking in the mirror. Children should be taught that good hygiene improves the impression they make on others. Oil, sweat and dirt can make hair look dank. Clean clothes signify the start of a new day. Health care professionals at the California Childcare Health Program report that when children show up for school or daycare looking good and clean, they are received better by the teachers and the other students and they have a better outlook.
Time Frame
Children can begin to acquire good oral hygiene before they even break in their first tooth, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Parents can help healthy gum growth by wiping them with a damp cloth after meals. As children grow, they should be given their own soft bristled toothbrush and taught how to brush. Good dental hygiene will help prevent cavities and gum disease and give children whiter smiles and fresher breath.
