A major concern and priority for parents in the vibrant and diverse culture of India is the health status and well-being of the children. Most of the time, amidst modern lifestyle and busy schedules, the teaching of kids with proper hygiene often gets neglected. Having good hygiene from a young age is very important as this could help protect children from simple illnesses and be with them for life. Below are mentioned ten crucial hygiene practices that each child should be educated about, and parents can teach their children to incorporate these practices appropriately.
Handwashing is one of the simplest yet most effective ways of preventing germs. With this, a person should also teach his child good handwashing hygiene by scrubbing parts using soap and water for at least 20 seconds, which include the back of hands, in between the fingers, and underneath the fingernails. He or she should be encouraged to wash before eating, after visiting the toilet, and after playing.
Good oral hygiene is the key to preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Teach your children to brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, using fluoride toothpaste. Show them how to brush all surfaces of their teeth and tongue. Also encourage them to floss every day and rinse their mouth with water after meals for a healthy smile.
General toilet hygiene is significant in prevention against infections. Instruct the children to wipe from front to back and not to transfer bacteria via haphazard wiping. Ensure that the children wash their hands using soap and water after visiting the washroom. Such practices are supposed to be portrayed to the young one by a parent by observation for a while.
It is important for children to learn to clean their bodies well. Guide them to wash their face, neck, armpits, and feet daily with the help of soap and water. Explain to them the importance of regular bathing, especially after sweating or playing outside, to keep their skin clean and free from infections.
Long fingernails trap dirt and bacteria that can be transferred to the mouth and cause infection. Teach your child to cut their nails with nail clippers short. Instruct them to cut across the top of the nail with the nail clipper then to file down the edges to prevent hangnails. Continued emphasis should be placed on the need to keep the nails clean and dry.
Proper food hygiene should start by washing fruits and vegetables. Learn your children into a practice of rinsing such produce in running water-the dirt should have gone, and the pesticides well cleaned. Make them understand that they will not contract foodborne illnesses if they start by washing their hands before handling food and keeping kitchen surfaces clean.
General cleanliness should be ensured, including wearing clean clothes, to maintain hygiene and boost self-esteem; inculcate the trait of changing clothes daily, especially underwear and socks, within your children from a tender age. Teach them how to place dirty clothes in the laundry basket and let them know the reason for this, since fresh clothes prevent bad body odor and skin infections.
Good sleep hygiene is very crucial for our good health and well-being. Develop a consistent bedtime routine for your children, including an adequate amount of sleep for the child's age. Explain how to put on clean pajamas and keep the child's sleeping place clean, free of clutter, and anything else that may distract the child from sleeping soundly.
You can prevent the spread of germs by teaching your child proper sneezing hygiene. Show your children how to catch their sneeze or cough with a tissue or their elbow; then, the child should throw the tissue away and wash his or her hands to prevent the spread of the infection.
A good living environment will ensure good health. Assign your kids tasks according to their age; they need to help you keep the house clean. Teach them to clear their playthings, to make their bed, and to help you in dusting and sweeping. Point out to them that a clean home wards off diseases and allergies.
Teaching children to adopt personal hygiene habits is such a hard task that it should be tackled with a lot of patience, consistency, and positive enforcement. Begin with setting a good example with your hygiene practices. Make it fun and use a lot of activities and visual aid materials to demonstrate correct personal hygiene techniques and let them form part of the daily schedule. Praise and reward your children when you see they are striving to attain good hygiene and gently remind them when they forget. Consistency in reinforcement and encouragement will help them to develop such habits.
The importance of proper hygiene is to prevent this from causing illness and promote sound health. Children who can observe good hygiene are likely to suffer fewer infections hence will not be sick, hence, have a lot of days absent from school. Besides, they will have increased self-esteem and develop it throughout their lifetime. Habits also aid in creating a cleaner and healthier environment, hence contributing to the family and the community at large.