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Hygiene Games for Kids

While small children often do not understand the concept of personal hygiene, establishing a routine is important in teaching them to properly take care of themselves. Use hygiene games to entice kids to remember to wash their hands before eating or even to brush their teeth before bed. In addition to learning personal hygiene to prevent tooth decay or unpleasant odors, cleaning up will also prevent the spread of germs and sickness.

  1. Dental Health

    • Getting small children to brush their teeth properly can be a struggle. To show children that brushing can be fun, Colgate provides parents with "Colgate Kids World," which features online puzzles and games that teach children how to keep their teeth healthy. The website has games for children ranging in ages from two to nine in addition to other fun activities. The Oral Health Institute also features various links to printable puzzles, coloring sheets and word searches for children of all ages to learn about brushing and keeping teeth healthy.

    Washing Hands

    • Washing the hands many times throughout the day is vital in preventing the spread of germs and bacteria. "Lather Up for Good," from Softsoap, offers games and resources to help children remember to wash their hands. There are coloring pages and search-and-find puzzles for children to play with while learning about the importance of personal hygiene. The website also suggests allowing children to pick out their favorite liquid soap color and scent to entice them to wash more frequently. Singing songs while washing up will also make lathering up fun. Finally, teach your children the importance of washing hands by setting an example and washing yours throughout the day---especially before meals.

    Bathing Fun

    • For small children, bathing is usually about playing with toys in the tub. As they get older, it may be hard for them to understand that bathing is about getting cleaned up. "Family Fun" offers plenty of games for kids to play while also getting them to partake in the washing aspect. Shampoo strategies help parents with children of all ages wash hair and rinse without a fuss. For example, try setting a shatterproof mirror on the side of the tub and allow children to watch you create funny hairstyles from their shampoo-lathered hair, like a Mohawk, unicorn horn or any number of other styles.

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