How to instill good hygiene habits in your kids

Many children have returned to school or have started their school or creche life for the first time this year.

School can be the place where children pick up not just knowledge, but unfortunately germs as well.

“Children mix quite closely with each other, both in the classroom and in the playground. Germs can transfer easily in such situations.

Most children are not as conscious of personal hygiene as they should be, which can increase their risk of falling ill,” said Dr Kgosi Letlape, handwashing and hygiene advocate.

Dettol South Africa, shares tips on how children can maintain proper hygiene at school using these simple steps:

Tip 1: Hand washing is a must

Hand washing is an essential part of good hygiene. To eliminate contracting germs it is important to teach your child how to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom, before and after eating.

Dettol helps you educate your child on healthy hygiene habits with their easy to follow six steps to healthy and proper handwashing (please find attached the six step poster to handwashing)

Tip 2: Make hand washing fun and exciting

Children are more likely to wash their hands if they realise how important it is. As germs can’t be seen, or smelt, children may have trouble understanding that hands are dirty even if they look clean.

Parents can come up with hand washing games to make washing hands fun, in doing so, children will more likely wash their hands.

Tip 3: Ensure that your child’s finger nails are clean and that they wash their hands frequently

Fingernails are a breeding ground for bacteria. The germs that live under a child’s nails are easily transferred to their eyes, nose, and mouth.

Ensure that your child’s fingernails are clipped every week and that they wash their hands before and after eating their lunch at school.

Tip 4: Prevent the spread of germs

Teach your children good hygiene habits. Clean hands are important in controlling the spread of illness, especially during cold and flu seasons.

Teach them how to wash their hands after coughing and sneezing, and after touching dirty tissues.

Show children how to use a tissue to cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze. Teach them to put their used tissues in a bin and wash their hands afterwards.

Tip 5: Let your child stay at home if they are not well

If your child is unwell, keep them away from school until they are better. Children should only attend school if they are well enough to benefit and participate, and not spread their germs to others.

Helping your child to understand good hygiene will go a long way to helping you and the rest of your family stay healthy.

Through their school programmes, Dettol is committed to changing hand washing behavior, and aims to educate over 1,5 million pupils by 2020.

Attached is a six steps demonstration for handwashing to teach your child/ren how to wash their hands to ensure they are protected from germs.

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