This document discusses the importance of teaching children good hygiene habits from an early age. It covers topics like hand washing, physical activity, healthy eating, and engaging children in educational activities. The overall goal is to instill the value of a healthy lifestyle in children by educating parents and caregivers on how to foster healthy behaviors. When children learn fundamentals of hygiene and healthy habits early on, it can positively impact their well-being and set them up for a healthy lifestyle long-term.

1.  By: Thao Dam
University of Missouri – Columbia, Fall 2013
thaodam@mail.missouri.edu

3. 

4.  Practicing good hygiene means looking, feeling and smelling good.
 If you are a caregiver, you know that a child with poor hygiene can feel bad
about himself and become the target of bullies.
 Teaching good hygiene can prevent illness and helps a child learn how to take
care of himself.
 Developing good hygiene skills in childhood can set the stage for
cleanliness habits as an adult.
Boehlke, 2010

5.  Good hygiene is more than just looking neat and clean—it can also reduce
the spread of disease.
 Therefore, good hygiene affects the health and well-being of children as
well as the people with whom they spend their day.
 Children seldom stay clean for long.
 Healthy young children will explore their environment and play with sand,
mud, water and paints.
 Their clothes and bodies often get very dirty during the day at school or
child care.
Calder & Dailey, 2010

6. Educating and letting children participate in healthy activities can bring
about self-awareness and a health-conscious mind in order to foster
healthy behaviors.

7.  Hand washing is extremely
important for good hygiene since
the hands are a dumping ground
for the transmission of germs.
 The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention reports that
numerous conditions and
diseases are spread from
unwashed hands.
 A child should wash his hands
with soap and water several times
a day.
 Hands should be thoroughly
washed and rinsed for 20
seconds.
 Key hand washing times include
before eating, after going to the
bathroom and after coughing or
sneezing.
 Hands should be dried with a
clean towel.
 http://youtu.be/E34Mj86e1L0
 In this video, the child is washing
her hands by herself after using
the bathroom.
Hellesvig-Gaskell, 2010

8.  Children are naturally active.
 Depending on your child's
personality and your family life
habits, the amount of daily activity
will vary.
 Be sure your child gets to move
muscles every day.
 http://youtu.be/LESXsgrCdJ8
 In this video, the children are
playing in the sandbox outside.

9.  Children who are given healthy food options during early childhood are more likely to
continue healthy eating habits when they are older.
 Make sure your child is getting a variety of foods appropriate for his age (fruit,
vegetables, and protein).
 By teaching your children healthy eating habits, and modeling these behaviors in
yourself, you can help your children maintain a healthy weight and normal growth.
 Some of the most important aspects of healthy eating are portion control and cutting
down on how much fat your child eats.
 Simple ways to reduce fat intake in your child's diet and promote a healthy weight
include serving: low-fat or nonfat dairy products; poultry without skin; lean cuts of
meats; whole grain breads and cereals.
Alli, 2012

10.  There are so many activities you can do that are fun and educational for
your child.
 Bubbles! You can buy these for less than a dollar at most stores. Or, you
can make your own using a straw and a mix of half liquid dish soap, half
water. You can use these to teach counting, to teach the meaning of "up" ,
"down" and "more".
 Blocks! Symbolic play, letting one thing stand for another, is a very
important development in early childhood. A block can be used in pretend
play as a doll's bottle, a car or an airplane. Blocks are also useful for
learning cause and effect.
Spirit Lake Consulting, Inc.

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12.  “You are your child’s guide and teacher – the best person to help her
learn how to live a healthy life! Instead of screen time, focus on
positive activities like physical activity to help your child grow up
healthy.”
 The main goal for parents, caregivers and teachers is to instill the value of a healthy
lifestyle. A child who is clean and presentable feels good about himself and has an
easier time making friends.
 Staff and teachers at daycare center cannot implement healthy practices alone, but
needs help from parents.
 Children under the age of 5 cannot take care of themselves without the assistance of
an adult.
 Young children can be taught the fundamentals of hygiene, starting with bathing,
washing hands, brushing teeth and grooming.
Boehlke, 2010

13.  Alli, R. (2012). Healthy eating habits for your child. Retrieved
from http://children.webmd.com/guide/kids-healthy-eating-
habits
 Boehlke, J. (2010). Poor hygiene in children. Retrieved from
http://www.livestrong.com/article/192362-poor-hygiene-in-
children/
 Calder, J., & Dailey, L. (2010). Good hygiene for children.
Retrieved from
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Good_Hygien
e_Your/
 Hellesvig-Gaskell, K. (2010). A hygiene checklist for children.
Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/222824-
hygiene-checklist-for-children/
 Spirit Lake Consulting, Inc. (n.a). Developmental stimulation
with toys. Retrieved from
http://www.spiritlakeconsulting.com/DA/early/dev_stim5.html

14.  This presentation is for the families of children at the University of Missouri
Student Parent Center. It is designed to inform parents of their children’s
typical behaviors at the day care center and how these behaviors affect
their health. It is an awareness piece to emphasize the importance of letting
children participate in healthy activities in order to bring about self-
awareness and a health-conscious mind. The PowerPoint presentation
should first be shown to parents/legal guardians of the children in order to
introduce them to the concepts of keeping their small ones healthy. The
educational booklet is an additional supplement for parents to take home so
that they can refer to it when necessary. The main take-away point is to
foster awareness in parents to be a part of the healthy movement and join
hands with school officials in order to achieve successful outcomes. The
material will help both the day care facility and parents maintain a healthy
lifestyle for children now and in the future.