Just like reading and writing, children need to be taught about personal hygiene, too. From brushing their teeth to keeping their hands and bodies clean, the habits learned while they are young will stay with kids for the rest of their lives. Teaching kids about hygiene can be fun, and there are many activities you can do to make sure kids get the message that being clean is cool.
Germs
Teaching children about hygiene (a word they won't understand) means teaching them about germs and just plain yucky stuff. Since kids can't see germs, you'll have to teach them what they are. A glitter game is a good way to teach kids about how germs spread and can get on every surface. Sprinkle a small amount of glitter onto your child's hands and then have her go touch a few surfaces, such as doorknobs, the telephone and even your hand. This will show her in an easy-to-understand way how germs can spread on every surface.
Bath Time
Kids who see bath time as playtime are more likely to want to jump in and wash up. Make bath time a fun time for kids by incorporating toys. You can even make it a double learning activity by using things such as letters and numbers that stick to the wall of the bathtub to teach kids words and numbers. You can sing songs about parts of the body like "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" while helping your child wash those parts of the body in the bath.
Washing Hands
Germs are on every surface around the home and at school, and kids' hands seem to be everywhere as well. Not only are proper hand-washing habits essential, it's also important to teach kids how to do it properly. Teach children to sing a song like "Happy Birthday" or recite the alphabet while washing their hands. This will help them learn how long it takes to get the hands fully clean before finishing.
Brushing Teeth
Some children might be reluctant to put a stick with bristles in their mouth and scrub it around, so help ease their concerns by practicing on a doll or even showing them how you brush your teeth and it doesn't hurt. Since you'll likely have to help your child brush his teeth, why not turn the table and let him brush your teeth. This will teach him how to brush gently so as to not damage his gums.
