Starting the New Year Fresh and Clean

As you start off the new year, you may have been thinking about positive changes you can make in your life and your family's. If you've been considering improving cleanliness and hygiene, the following ideas might help! We know convincing a child of the importance of hygiene and instilling healthy habits can be a challenge. Here are a few helpful hints as children age and begin to take on more responsibility for their own cleanliness.

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- Routine: Children thrive on routine. Once they perform these tasks daily, they will begin to accept them as the norm.
- Fun: Make a beard out of those bath bubbles or turn a runny nose into a horn blowing impression. Children love repeating fun tasks.
- Example: Let them witness you getting ready or washing your hands before you cook. Your child won’t naturally pick up on these habits; he needs to see them practiced!
- Talk: Explain the importance of grooming. Children are naturally curious creatures, so explaining germs can help them understand why hygiene is so important.
- Reward: When a child knows that they have a new toothbrush or a cool bath toy waiting for them to use, the task is less of a chore and more of an exciting new experience.

Let us know some of your favorite ways to keep your child clean in the comments. For more tips and ideas, check out this article!