They say charity begins at home, and so does the training of basic hygiene and cleanliness. Realizing that both these factors are essential to one’s overall well being and health is a must. And once that’s in place, you will have to think of ways to train your little ones into following them. However, let us tell you that it might not be an easy task. But remember, it is not impossible either!

You can start training your child when they are as young as two or three years old. After all, a child’s self-awareness and the need to care for oneself start developing by this time.  The need to instill in the kids a proper routine for healthy hygiene practices is essential from a very young age. These habits will stay with them as they keep growing and maturing with time. Here are a few activities and actions that work wonders in kids when maintaining personal hygiene.

Start With The Basics

Practicing the five simple and effective steps at the beginning with your kid will make the process easy. Yes, we are talking about something the whole world has finally been doing religiously. Washing hands properly for five minutes. Teach them to wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry. Hand washing is the crux of ensuring hand hygiene, and parents must see to it that children master this habit when they’re quite young. It’s pretty simple and not time-consuming at all.

But recognizing that it keeps germs and infections away will anyway motivate them to continue with this habit. When your baby grows, teach him or her the art of washing hands vigorously with soap and water and not merely wet them under the tap. The process should extend for at least 20-30 seconds. But that’s not the end. After washing, your kids must dry their hands properly using a towel.

Toilet Training When They’re Ready

Some tell-tale signs indicate your toddler is finally ready to be toilet-trained. Usually, it’s between the ages of 18 to 24 months when your kid might finally become ready to embrace this new habit. But that’s no guarantee! Cases of children who became ready when they were three have also occurred. Remember not to rush them. Every child is different, and allowing them to mature freely is a must.

Chances are if you start too early for a child who is not ready, it might take you far longer to train him or her than you would have expected. Once they are, teach them to wipe the entire portion from the front to the back using a clean toilet paper after washing the area thoroughly. The need to continue wiping with fresh toilet paper till it feels squeaky clean is of utmost importance. Not to forget, flushing the toilet after using the bidet is essential too.

Checking For Dental Care

Kids take some time to welcome this practice. Make your child aware of why they must brush their teeth at least twice a day- morning, when they wake up, and just before going to sleep at night. As stated earlier, do not rush them. Go through each step carefully. From wetting the brush to squeezing the toothpaste slightly on it, cleaning the teeth in the right manner and then the tongue, and finally to rinse the mouth with clean water and spit that out- every part of the entire process is important.

If you want to boost him or her up, allow the act of choosing his or her favorite toothbrush and toothpaste. For the latter, ensure that the chief ingredients to keep off bacterial infections are present.

Be Wary Of Coughing And Sneezing

And it’s not because of the current times! This holds for all situations and at all times. Teach him or her why the nose and mouth should be covered when sneezing or coughing. The germs spread through the air, and certainly, anyone around can be a victim to infections. Since sneezes can go up to 100 miles an hour, the germs spread across several meters.

While using a handkerchief is necessary, it is also essential to wash hands regularly after sneezing and coughing! This might not always be possible, but better safe than sorry!

You might not see instant progress. But appreciating their tiny steps that your child takes and their progress is paramount to practicing and retaining these habits.