How can I get my 9 year old daughter to care about hygiene?

Answer 1

This is SO gross but it works.

Kids sometimes don't get it. They either don't care or don't realize that they're not doing it right.

SO you want to wake them up... my 6 year old didn't care. At all. She was so pretty but it was a fight to brush teeth, hair, even have a bath or properly wipe herself off!!! So stay at home on a Saturday and don't do any of your hygiene. Don't wear deodorant. Then partway through the day make sure you're sweaty and gross and ask her what that smell is! Then make a big SHOCK that it is you and freak out over yourself. Let her smell and then talk together about how gross it is. Go through the whole ritual together in the afternoon - brush teeth, shower, etc etc.

The next Saturday go shopping for girl stuff - even a tomboy likes bubblegum bubble bath. Buy her her own deodorant. Streak her hair or buy some hair mascara. Go through the whole ritual together.

It could be that her "girl" side hasn't woken up yet [happening at the moment with my older daughter!] or she honestly doesn't care [like my little one]. You need to make her realize that 1) other people can smell you 2)its gross 3) you have to do it so make it fun!

My little one needed some big help with it. A combination of flush able bum wipes [she was lazy and hated toilet paper hehehe], smelling her sweaty mom [and us agreeing it was gross!] and some cool girlie stuff [mango body spray, glitter and raspberry deodorant!] really woke her up to the hygiene side of life!

The one thing you don't want to do is embarass her. 9 year old girls embarass easily. That is why you talk about how gross it is when YOU forget to take care of yourself :P Turn the spotlight away from her and she will be more open to it....

Answer 2

Unfortunately its the age. It may last till shes about 11 or 12 even. But maybe making a schedule or calendar with a check list of the things she needs to do daily could help. Then set a reward for doing the things she needs to do, for her and her hygiene. Make the list to include shower or bath, making bed, putting on deodorant, clean room.. etc. You get the idea, I'm sure. But by adding the hygiene things into this "To Do" list may help some. Or perhaps taking her out, and getting the personal hygiene products with her, allowing her to choose the things that she may like the smell of could help also.
Unfortunately, its not easy. I have a son who is now 11 1/2 and his school nurse gave him deodorant at school, for him to use. He was upset, but he had some here at home, just never sunk in till then. (He's a sweater, and its genetics with the males in my family.) Now, thankfully he uses it and said he likes the smell of it, so from now on, I told him we would get him that kind.
Hope this might help some. Good Luck to you & your daughter!

Answer 3

You could see if the phys. ed teacher could talk with her about it or if they will have a hygiene class coming up soon- or just tell her that now that she is 9 going to be ten soon (?) there are certain things she needs to do to look healthy and nice and then inform her of the basics, daily showers, flossing & brushing teeth, deoderent, clean nails and hair fixed so it is nice looking! Good Luck!

Answer 4

Show her videos about hygiene and germs. Find some sites are the Internet that talk about germs, and what can happen if you are exposed to a lot of them. Arming a child with the facts and information will help them change.

Answer 5

Start a responsibility chart. Poster board with her choars and responsiblities ie bathing and brushing her teeth, without being told. She gets a sticker. If she does it all week she gets a prize. Could be an hour at a park (free) or somrthing that you both decide on. Maybe something that you are doing now but she won't get the reward unless she starts to get her resopnsibility points.

Tell her this is something new we are implementing and we will go 6 weeks to see how it works. She will understand that time frame. Make it fun and rewarding instead of disciplining. Works at my house.

Good luck.

Answer 6

People don't understand that children do not like threats or blackmail.
its the same for every human being you cant force them to do what they dont want to. but u can encourage the good behavior and discourage the bad. By her gifts such as smelly shampoos and salts
to tempt her to take baths. if she gets a nice gift rapped present she will want to use it. also when she dosent want to take baths you should just say fine. Your the one that will smell and then discourage
by "rubbing it in" Have a bath yourself come out in your robe and show her how relaxed and clean you are she will look up 2 you and
follow in your footsteps. Dont try all this bullying into the shower!

Answer 7

Encourage her with rewards. Make up a reward system. Example: make a chart and put a cute sticker up for everyday she does what you ask her to do. She does not deserve a sticker if she whines and gives you a hard time first. After she gets 7 stickers (for the week) give her a little prize. I see this kind of thing of "Super Nanny" all the time, and it works extremely well.

Answer 8

As long as she was raised with good hygiene habits, she will care sooner or later, until then you are going to have to remind her to take her showers and brush her teeth

Answer 9

well if you have a pet or she has a pet you could start from there..or give her examples without directly targeting her..i think its better to make her understand why? hygiene and then when? and where? what? (the 3 w's and 1 h) and how?

Or start with her using it on her dolls?

Answer 10

Ughhhhhh. I would like to know this too. I've tried telling mine she has to shower every other day and she is always tricking me out of it or I forget or she gets sneaky about it all. I hope you get some answers that are helpful, because I need help too.