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teaching health and hygiene?
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please don’t laugh – I feel silly asking this because it seems such a basic thing – but do you all have any recommendations for a book to read/go through that covers basic health and hygiene topics? Maybe it’s having all boys – but the grossness is getting to me. I mean do they really not care? But seriously, mine have always responded well to characters they relate to – they have loved the Miller books and refer to them. But I thought you all might have some good go to books that maybe would inspire my boys to have a desire to keep a better watch on themselves
I second the “boy thing.” I told my 10yo son to have a shower one night and he complained. When I asked “why?” he told me “to me, it just wastes time.” Is that crazy?!? Who wouldn’t want a shower? I’m thinking the interest in hygiene will come right along with the interest in girls. 🙂
I agree boys are more challenging lol. I don’t know any books but what helps my son is having a clear routine. An index card with necessary practices that need to be taken care of each day is helpful. It helps Keep their boy brain from wandering off to Lego world and forgetting to comb their hair or brush their teeth. You have to be awful specific for them. Ex: wash entire body with soap. Wash hair with shampoo. Lol put deodorant on. Put on freshly washed underwear. Not “clean” because that is subjective apparently.
My girls, although younger, do not need any reminders. They already want to wear deodorant. They will tell my son he is covered in “stinky boy sweat” and needs a shower. He laughs and tries to wipe it on them.
Instilling hygiene habits will go a long way. I honestly think they don’t even think about it.
Tara
“clean” is subjective – I agree – I can double check the teeth and it doesn’t look like anyone brushed them, and when they bathe themselves, same thing. they are into the “little boy stink” as it is called around here. they have their favorite shirts too, that they will wear all week if I don’t peel them off of them. one of my little ones says he’d like to keep a collection of cut off fingernails, toenails, and many other gross things (we don’t let him and he is slightly kidding in case anyone is worried). okay, just spouting off a bit more 🙂 I do absolutely love my testosterone ocean that I live in, don’t get me wrong, they are just gross.
Having only girls I have not dealt with this, but my girls throughout their growing up would often say things like boys are so yuk, they are stinky – so I guess it is a challenge. I mentioned it to hubby and he said once the interest in girls starts then they will clean up nicely, but until then apparently they are not bothered….so good idea on trying to get a handle on it – good luck.
How old are your boys that are wearing deodorant? Ds8 asks to wear it, but he doesn’t smell yet. I never thought about the fact that getting him to wear it later might be difficult so maybe I should help him get into the habit now. ??? It’s homemade deodorant, so it wouldn’t hurt him any. I guess I could be avoiding it because it just means he’s that much closer to growing up. 🙁
I so have to laugh. I have only little girls, and am watching a friend’s little boy today. He is 2 1/2 and has been here an hour. I have already had to disinfectant-wipe down the bathroom and toilet from his first potty time. Yikes. It reminded me of this and another thread on here, and made me grateful the girls want to bathe often. 😉
He is all boy, and doesn’t want to let my girls “wake-up” so they are already cranky with him. Sigh. We only have 11 more hours to go…I was thinking about taking them to the park and wearing him down a bit, then bringing them home to cool ofd by running through the water in the little kiddie pool. Maybe it will be less taxing on us all. They definitely have a different mind set! =)
This is not the book to have your children model after the character, but your comments reminded me of Calvin in Calvin and Hobbes. As for your son’s collection suggestions – love the toenail idea! LOL Such a funny boy thing. =)
My son thinks that when he swims in the rec center’s pool, he is “bleached” clean (from the chlorine). He also thinks that getting soaked with water gun fights or the hose is akin to taking a bath….and the fact that he knows the doctor has advised against frequent use of soaps doesn’t help deter that kind of thinking!
I’m thinking of sneaking outside next time they are having a water gun fight and pouring a bucket of water with bubble bath over him. It might be worth the risk of having the squirt guns turned on me.
Tercz1, Yes.
That is all I have to say about it. And ROFL.
Signed,
LDIMom, Mom of 4 sons ages 13, 12, 9 and 7 (need I say more?)
P.S. The 7YO is already picking up the idea that clothes are meant to be thrown on the floor rather than put in their laundry bag, back in the drawer if not dirty (e.g. sometimes clothes worn ot church on Sun. morning). ARGH!
No advice as my son hasn’t really gotten to the I hate showers phase yet. However, did you ever see the Bill Cosby bit on telling boys how to shower? It was hilarious. Step by painful step instructions. I can’t recall if it was on his tv show or a comedy routine, but it was great because all parents of or sisters to boys could relate!
P.S. How to get them to wear deodorant?
Well I told 12YO DS, who will be 13 in a few months, “OK, you can either put on your deodorant or STINK! You choose.” (said with a smile of course). That day he chose to NOT stink. He REALLY, REALLY needs DO for the BO.
And the “clean” underwear? Don’t even get me started. Why did 12YO come home from 4 nights at church camp with 2 pair of dirty underwear?????? I don’t even want to know LOL!!! And yes, I might have needed to pinch my nose shut while laundering their clothes from camp!
There is a chapter on hygiene for boys in the “Lessons in Responsibility, Level 2” book by Pearables. It is for ages 8 & up. I believe the Level 1 book for younger boys dealt with the subject of hygiene a bit more in depth, but we didn’t use that book, so I’m not too sure.
My oldest came home from week long Scout camp and had only brushed his teeth once. He made the comment – “I don’t know why I brought all those extra clothes, I just wore my swim trunks and this t-shirt the whole time.” His male leaders thought it was hilarious – I’m dying as their laughing about it.
There is a book I’m eyeballing called Personal Hygiene: What’s That Got to do with Me? My boys *may* respond to that better than nagging mom. Who knows? DH says that they’ll clean up sometime around 15 or 16 when they notice girls.
okay ladies, you are not encouraging me here – it sounds more like a “just deal with it” answer – NOT what I was going for
no good books? really? from any of us book lovers here?????btw – we have the pool thing here, supported by the hubs (and I will confess, I go along with it), no one has to bathe after we swim, but it is our own pool, so does that make it better?
oh my oldest son loves the shower, problem is he just likes to stand in it and not scrub!
and LDImom – pinching the nose? YES! When I go into their room to check on them before I go to bed, I get knocked down by the smell sometimes – and this is after the baths and even with clean sheets – it is just so concentrated in their small space.
we keep clorox wipes on the back of the toilet (we only have 1 bathroom, so I have to share) with a note that says “if you miss, would you please, take the time, use one of these”
sheraz – send him outside to run it out, it will help 🙂 the days it rains around here can be miserable! way too much energy in a small space!
I am an only child who grew up with just a mom who had 3 sisters – I was never around males growing up. I am used to it (I guess) now, but it is still so foreign. I will ask my husband, “is this a guy thing?” very often.
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