Following types of hygiene practices to should teach your child1

  • Teach your child to wash hands before eating, after going to the toilet,  after playing or touching animals or dirty things and after sneezing or coughing. Teach them to wash hands with water and soap and ask them to dry hands thoroughly.
  • Teach them that regular baths keep them clean and healthy.
  • Teach your daughter about the importance of cleaning vulva gently in the bath or shower. It should be washed from front to back to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.
  • Boys should be taught to wash their penis and scrotum the way they wash other body parts. Teach your son to regularly clean the tip of the penis.
  • Teach children to wipe their bottoms after potty.
  • Children should be taught to brush twice a day.
  • Teach your child to blow the nose gently when it’s blocked.
  • They should cover their mouth with tissue on sneezing or coughing and then should throw the tissue in the bin.

How to encourage hygiene habits2

You can help your child to build these hygiene practices by rewarding these habits. You can reward them with the following things.

  • A gift certificate to a bookstore
  • Toy (Frisbee, hula hoop, jump rope, ball)
  • Ticket to an event or movie
  • Trophy or ribbon
  • Sticker
  • Magnet
  • Stuffed animal
  • Temporary tattoo
  • Hair accessory
  • Bracelet, necklace
  • Shoelaces
  • Cap
  • T-shirt
  • Cup
  • Give extra free time

Reference

  1. Daily personal hygiene[Internet]. Available at: https://raisingchildren.net.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/35752/Daily-personal-hygiene-PIP.pdf. Accessed on Mar 2, 2020.
  2. Effective & Healthy Rewards for kids[Internet]. Available at: https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/AlternativeReward.pdf. Accessed on Mar 2, 2020.