Good hygiene begins with babies, who are incapable of looking after themselves. At this early age, it is up to the parents or carers to make sure children are kept clean and healthy and exposure to potentially harmful germs kept to a minimum. Children do learn by example, so they will follow the practices of parents who have a good hygienic routine. Good hygiene practices commenced at home will take them through their school years where they will be exposed to contact with many other children and shared desks and chairs.

Hand washing

This is by far the most important hygiene practice to teach children. Using soap and water encourage them to sing a favourite short song, to ensure they wash their hands for the appropriate amount of time. Make sure they wash their hands before eating, after going to the toilet, after playing outdoors and several other times throughout the day. Children can also suffer from unexpected sneezes, coughs, and runny noses at any time. It is therefore important to teach them to cover their mouth when coughing and to blow runny noses.

Oral care

Oral hygiene is an essential aspect of overall health and well-being, and it’s never too early to start teaching your children good habits. Encouraging your kids to brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily can help prevent cavities and other dental problems. It’s also important to schedule regular checkups with a family dental practice to ensure your child’s teeth and gums are healthy.

There is also the matter of treating their teeth in a way that they stay clean and easy to take care of in the future as well. Often kids tend to play around or damage their teeth in the process of playing or eating, and when their baby teeth break off and new ones grow, they might end up being crooked. Teaching them how to care for their teeth or even taking them to the dentist that specialises in orthodontics for children could be a boon for them in the long run. By instilling good oral care habits early on, you can set your children up for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Bath time

Make bath time fun with bubbles! Children can make a bubble beard or see how many bubbles they can hold in their hands. Explain that bubbles wash the dirt and germs away and they will be nice and clean when they hop into bed. Bath time will be more fun if they have their own character face washer. Waterproof bath toys can also encourage bath time.

Make your routine their routine

Young children will want to know why men shave and why you put cream on your face. When you are in the bathroom, encourage them to brush their teeth with you, wash their hands with you or comb their hair with you. Make sure children have their own toothbrush and hairbrush for good hygiene. They will want to use the things that you are using, so this is a good way to get them to follow a hygienic routine.

Every parent knows that once children come along, a clean house becomes much more important. Young children will put anything they find into their mouths and handprints on walls and dirty floors become the norm for many families with boisterous healthy children. It is a good idea to occasionally engage a professional cleaning service to give your home a thorough clean. AMC Commercial Cleaning employ trained professionals who will do all the messy work for you. Teach children that hygiene is not a chore; it is a necessary practice to safeguard them from hidden bacteria and germs. Maybe even take them to your commercial cleaning supply store and teach them about how each item can be used to keep them safe. Just bear in mind that there is also good bacteria, which our bodies actually need.

Kim Blair