Hygiene Tips for Parents to Guide and Implement

As young toddlers begin to learn independence, here are some hygiene tips for parents to implement. 

Basics

Let’s start with the basics by educating our children about hygiene. Explain good and bad habits with them and why we must begin and maintain good hygiene habits. Praise and encourage them when they follow these basics. And get them into the habit of sustaining good hygiene going forward by making hygiene fun.

Making Hygiene Fun!

Try these three experiments with your children to get your message across:

• Sprinkle glitter on your hand. Cough on your hand. Look at the pretend germs and where they’ve traveled to throughout the room...places like doorknobs and light switches.

• Shake a family member’s hand. Now, shake another. And, another. Note that a sick person’s germs only have to come in contact with one person. But, that one person can spread the sick person’s germs around!

• Put on a pair of gloves. Add food coloring as pretend soap. Now, wash your hands. What do you see? Lots of places on your hands that you missed washing as witnessed by the food color that remains!

What Children Must Learn to Do to Better Neutralize Germs

As an outgrowth of these experiments, teach your children to: 

• Wash your hands for 20 seconds before and after prepping food; being outside; after going to the bathroom; and, after touching an animal

• Cover your mouth by coughing into your elbow joint or handkerchief

• Turn away from people when coughing or sneezing

• Try not to touch your face.

Discuss General Good Hygiene

Having conversations with children from a young age and setting the example of proper hygiene together help set the right expectations. These tasks also include bathing, washing your hair, brushing your teeth, cleaning your nails, and wearing clean clothes. These actions will result in children learning how to care for themselves as a preventative measure.

Working Together in the Home

• Build teamwork by disinfecting high-touch surfaces together; wipe down all kitchen areas before and after meals; also, clean bathroom, sink, bath, and door handles daily.

• Disinfectants and the like can be teaching moments! Preschoolers can create ownership of their assigned, independent work and feel like part of the family. 

Parents: be cautious about and monitor your child’s use of disinfectants.

Summary

By employing these hygiene tips for parents, you can guide, observe, encourage and let your youngest feel part of the family and the world outside.