Teaching a child proper personal care

Personal care

A six-year-old may be losing interest in the bathtime rituals that she loved as a preschooler. Some children demand complete control over bathing their bodies at this time. By age eight, she's even more independent. But don't expect her to be thorough about washing her own ears, neck, and back.

Some kids this age are perfectly competent at shampooing their own hair, but many still require help rinsing thoroughly. Some kids have sensitive scalps, and they don't enjoy hair washing or brushing. A short haircut might be the solution.

By age nine, kids can generally look after their own baths, but the bathing may be more effective with supervision. Once in the tub, they're more likely to get down to the business of washing and less likely to play than they were a year ago.By age nine, kids can generally look after their own baths, but the bathing may be more effective with supervision. Once in the tub, they're more likely to get down to the business of washing and less likely to play than they were a year ago.

About age ten, your child may have to be coaxed into the bathtub. Baths aren't fun anymore, and he doesn't want to take the time. You may need to set up a bathing schedule with a reward system to ensure that he's reasonably clean. Or by this time, some kids switch to showers, again to speed up the cleaning process. This distaste for baths may lessen by age eleven, but some kids show a general aversion to personal hygiene during puberty.

Unfortunately, this aversion coincides with their increasing sweat gland and oil gland production. Parents may find themselves complaining about body odour and greasy hair to no avail. Let your child know that while it's important to use deodorant, deodorant doesn't replace bathing as a way of eliminating body odour. You shouldn't have to sit at the dinner table beside someone who smells. Be firm about your own limits of tolerance. Then let nature take its course. Very soon your child will love the shower again and you'll be watching your water bills climb.

The ABCs of hand washing

Teach your children to wash their hands for as long as it takes them to sing the ABCs. After scrubbing with soap, they should rinse off with warm water, and dry with a clean towel. Washing their hands regularly is the best way for your kids to avoid picking up and transmitting cold and flu infections. Most kids, even up to the age of twelve, need to be reminded to wash up. Set a good example by washing your own hands:

• after using the toilet
• after handling pets or other animals
• after coming in the house from outside
• before handling food
• after preparing raw meat, especially poultry, for cooking
• before eating food
• after coughing or sneezing into a tissue