It is almost always a struggle to get your young kids to take care of themselves, whether it is brushing their teeth, combing their hair, or washing their hands. And bath time can always be a chore! But reinforcing good behavior, and always reminding them of the importance of good hygiene can sometimes make the process a lot easier!
Always Praise the Good
No matter what, even if your child is screaming and crying from the rooftops for hours before they hop into the bathtub, be sure to praise them when they do end up doing what you want them to do. It is apparent in almost everything we as humans do: we love praise! Whether it’s from our parents, friends, or our boss, it feels good to be acknowledged and to get that pat on the shoulder. Kids are certainly no different, and even though they were against bath time or brushing their hair, they still ended up doing it, so make sure you praise and potentially reward that behavior, even if it was only a split second long. It may take a while, but they may also remember the praise enough that the tantrums may even end a little sooner and the good behavior may even start faster!
Use Rewards if Need Be
Some kids may respond even faster to be more hygienic if there are rewards involved too. It can be something relatively small, so you don’t have to up the ante all the time, too. If your kid brushes their teeth without issue, then you could read for an extra five minutes before bedtime. It could even be something as small (but just as loving) as an extra hug or kiss before bedtime too! Whatever motivates your kid can become a reward, and making it something smaller or easier to provide, can make it a win-win for both parties.
Also Keep It Realistic
What you want to stay away from is giving them a full blown, potentially expensive reward, like a whole new book or even something more expensive, every time they do something positive or without issue. Even though you want to reward the good behavior of brushing their teeth or taking a bath without making a fuss, you simply cannot keep up with buying something every time. The same can be said for a reward like five extra minutes of staying up before bedtime, since that can snowball into more and more time, and could negatively impact their sleep routine. Make sure to set realistic, fun-loving rewards to make the whole process easier and smoother for both you and your fussy child!
Katie Kyzivat