Healthy Habits for Toddlers: Dental Care, Handwashing & More

Healthy Habits for Toddlers

If early to bed, early to rise can make an adult healthy, wealthy and wise, you can only imagine the impact good habits can have on children.

Inculcating healthy living habits for kids during the early years of childhood can help in the formation of a healthy routine that can carry forward way into adulthood and beyond. While obviously being beneficial. After all, good personal hygiene is the easiest way to keep a lot of ailments at bay while improving health and wellbeing overall.

So if you want a checklist of good hygiene habits your kids must follow, we have prepared one for you below. You can check it out. There are ten of them. And each one of them is both crucial as well as beneficial.

Washing hands regularly

One of the most essential healthy living habits for kids is washing hands. Regularly mind you. Since kids love to play, both indoors and outdoors, their hands can accumulate a wide variety of germs from different sources, including playgrounds, pets, washrooms and more. These germs when ingested while eating can lead to an array of problems, from an upset stomach to bacterial or viral infections.

Hence, it is important to instil in your child the importance of washing hands for 20 seconds so their tiny digits and palms can be germ-free. Ensure they do this every time after playing, visiting the washroom or before meals.

Twice a day brushing

With so many sugary temptations in the market, it can be very hard to tell your child no each time they ask for a treat. While these sweet delights are definitely a culprit behind oral issues such as cavities, even home-cooked food stuck between teeth can lead to the same results. Even causing other issues such as bad breath. Thus, part of the hygiene for kids should be brushing twice a day so they can easily maintain good oral health. Just ensure your toothpaste has fluoride for optimal care.

Everyday baths

Just like hands, other parts of the body can also accumulate germs during playtime. Coupled with sweat, this can also lead to issues like body odour or skin infections, which directly points to the importance of healthy habits and maintaining proper hygiene. Encouraging your kids to take a daily bath with a mild soap can keep them clean and their skin soft and supple. Teach them to clean all areas of their bodies and show them that thorough rinsing of soap is just as important.

Nail trimming

Dirt and bacteria can easily build up in the crevices of a kid’s nails, leading to all kinds of tummy troubles if left unattended. Hence, teach them the importance of healthy habits by encouraging them to trim their nails on a regular basis. Show them how to clean any dirt or debris build-up and discourage them from chewing their nails. You can get them started on the nail trimming journey by opting for colourful clippers, which attract their attention.

Proper hair care

Kids are prone to lice infestations. That is a fact. Apart from that, dandruff and tangles can also be problems kids can often face due to improper hair and scalp maintenance. By instilling in them the habit of proper hair care, you can avert most of these troubles. Teach them how to comb their hair properly on their own so it does not get in the way when they are playing. Ands also show them how to shampoo and condition their hair so they can maintain optimal scalp and hair health.

Wearing clean clothes

A lot of the hygiene issues among kids can arise during playtime. Including dirty clothes. Therefore, hygiene lessons for kids must also include the importance of wearing clean clothes. Not only does it teach them the value of being presentable, it also ensures good personal hygiene. Always make your child dirty, sweaty or wet clothes, be it outer garments such as t-shirts or shorts or inner garments such as socks and underwear.

Using handkerchief

As parents, you already know that the benefits of healthy habits include keeping diseases at bay. One of the habits that can ensure your kids as well as others around them can be saved from common infections such as cough and cold is handkerchief use. By instilling in your kids the habit to sneeze or cough into their handkerchiefs, you prevent the spread of germs, thus reducing the chances of contagious diseases. You must also teach them to use the handkerchief or tissues to blow their nose, wipe their hands, faces or even sweat.

Proper washroom habits

From flushing the toilet after every use to washing their hands when they are done, following toilet habits is an essential part of good personal hygiene. You can also show your kids the correct way of using toilet paper so any possible infections can be averted. Remember to tell them to always wipe from front to back and then dispose of the tissue in the trash can in the washroom.

Wear sunscreen

With the amount of time kids spend playing out in the sun, they can fall prey to the harmful effects of UV rays. Thus, you must educate them on the importance of sunscreen and remind them to reapply sunscreen on the exposed areas of their skin every two hours if they are spending a large amount of their time outdoors. You can also give them sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats to keep them protected from harsh light and heat strokes.

Proper sleep routine

Lastly, among the benefits of healthy habits is getting enough rest by implementing proper sleep habits. Naptime habits you can teach your kids must include freshening up and brushing their teeth before sleep. Screen-time should also be disallowed a couple of hours before sleep so the harmful blue light from gadgets does not disrupt sleep.

As a parent, you play the most important role in a child’s development. Your children will always look up to you and try to learn from you. So it is vital that you follow impeccable personal hygiene habits as well. At EuroKids too we encourage all of our students to maintain optimal personal hygiene at all times so they can grow up to be self-reliable adults. Find out more about the practices we follow by paying us a visit.