Why You Should Teach Your Children About Their Health and Hygiene

There are a lot of different things you need to teach your kids. They need to learn how to ride a bike, speak properly, and how to eat. The list goes on and on, but one thing that sometimes gets overlooked is teaching children about proper hygiene and how to be healthy.

You do not have to be a health or child expert to teach your kids about health and hygiene. You may have to do some research, but this gives you the opportunity to learn alongside your children.

Here are five reasons why you should teach your kids about such an important topic:

1. It will save you time in the long run

If you do not teach your kid about something, you will probably need to make up for it later, in some form or another. Let’s say you do not teach your kid to clean up after themselves. This means that you will have to clean up after them, which is exhausting and not necessary.

The younger you teach your kids, the easier it will be. It may be really hard to start teaching your 14 year old about wearing deodorant while it might be easier to get your 11 year old to understand the importance of wearing deodorant.

2. Set your child up for success

When your child understands the importance of being clean and taking care of themselves, they will be prepared for the adult world. They will be able to make smart decisions, such as staying away from things that can cause them harm, such as doTERRA and different essential oils.

If you do not teach your kids about eating healthy or proper hygiene practices, they will have to figure them out later on. This may happen at school, where someone makes fun of them or bullies them. Being proactive with them will help them avoid this situation.

3. Spend quality time with your children

There is nothing worse than feeling like you are not worth somebody’s time. If you are trying to teach your kids about something, make sure you carve out time for them. This does not have to be a sit-down lecture, but it should not be you giving them books or hand-out pamphlets to read as you run out of the house to another event. Let your children ask questions, express their concerns, and, most importantly, listen to them.

4. Build trust with them

When teaching your kids about health and hygiene, it is a perfect opportunity to build genuine trust with your children. If you are talking about being healthy, you could start by cooking healthy food as a family. You could also start exercising together, which is a great opportunity for bonding and talking.

This will be easier if you have younger kids, but it is never too late to start building healthy relationships with your children. They may not respond how you expect when you try to make these changes with them. Be patient and understand that it takes time to get used to something changing.

5. Keep teaching them

If your kids are younger, you will want to keep teaching them as they grow into teenagers and even young adults. This is going to be important, especially when they are going through puberty. When your kids know how to take care of their bodies, it will help the transition into adulthood go a little more smoothly. You do not have to be an expert in hygiene or puberty; you just need to be there for them. It could be something as simple as showing them how to shave, or showing them how to wear deodorant.

Teaching your kids specifically about hygiene may seem a little weird at first, but with patience and practice, you can both become more comfortable. What were some things you wish your parents had done with you while you were growing up?