Developing Kids Healthy Environment
Why Kids Hygiene Practices ? Let us begin with the discussion on public health policies already in place. How good are they in addressing the kids’ hygienic practices in specific, and or how much children benefit from such public health policies when applied to their daily hygiene practices? How are we able to use policies to help our children? Then, we can find viable ways and policies which best address the issue of kids’ hygiene practices and continue to introduce new ideas as to how others have been successful in combating kids’ health problems through hygienic practices /cleanliness.
Why kids’ hygiene practices need recognition first in order to address the root cause of their many health problems?
In looking at why kids are more susceptible to health problems, I realize that the public health policies we have are too general in addressing the root cause of health problems many kids face which mostly are caused by lack of daily personal hygiene practices. We must first raise public awareness that a daily personal hygiene practice has value to society. That value is found on our kids’ future health and good healthy living we can offer them. We need to implement and formulate specific policies which will address the issue of kids’ hygiene. By creating open lines of communication with parents to evaluate their children’s health status, we can help develop good healthy habits and attitudes. Healthy habits and attitudes are impossible without cleanliness and hygienic practices. There are many advantages of practicing personal hygiene/promoting good health-kids’ hygiene. Whatever the background the children come from – poor homes, lives in the village, or in the town, with little basic necessities, or excessive basic necessities, cleanliness is a must and is a basis of healthy living – clean house, clean clothes, and clean food. Today’s children are tomorrow’s parents. We must raise them well so that they will grow up to become good parents of future nations.
Parents play a major role in their children’s learning. Learning starts at home at a very early age. In order to prepare children from their very young ages on how to care for their bodies, this article will focus on the understanding of regular basic health practices as it relates to healthy living. My experience as a volunteer teacher during my university years and presently as an early childhood educator, have shown me how unaware many children are of the subject. All children need adults who can support their early learning; all children need adults who can show them how; all children need adults who can speak out on their behalf – whether it is for personal hygiene, increased access to health care, better housing and safer communities, or opportunities for high-quality early care and education: clean environment and air, clean water or nutritional food, etc. Personal hygiene is very important for everybody’s health- adults as well as children. No one likes to be close to a person with a body odor or dirty. So, whoever you are (adult or child), and wherever you go, remember to keep yourself clean-clean body and clean clothing. For young children, adults have responsibilities to keep them clean. According to health experts young children may sweat but they do not start having body odor (BO) until they reach puberty. Remember, to bathe or shower your child regularly. Keep your child’s skin, and hair clean. Clothes can get stained, dirty, and so you need to change them often. Underclothes are next to your skin and collect dead cells, sweat, and possibly other unmentionable stains. Overnight bacteria develops on these stains, your clothes are not fresh on the second day of wearing. And for the parents, how can you help your child to be odor free? When your child’s diapers and clothes are kept with your cigarettes? Parents not only should you not smoke cigarettes in the house or car, but also do not mix your child’s diapers or clothes bag with your cigarettes. The cigarette smoke will also get into your child’s clothing or his body. It is unhealthy for both, the child and you. Do not forget that secondhand smoke is inhaling the cigarette smoke from a smoker and it has been proven to cause health problems. Parents won’t smoke cigarettes around children either, would you? Children of cigarette smokers have a risk for health problems. Parents, teachers, and or an early childhood educators should inspire and become role models. No smoking should be permitted at any time during child care. Smoking is a definite health hazard. I encourage quitting smoking and suggest smoking classes for the parents who are interested in quitting smoking by providing references, handouts about smoking and its consequences. Education is a tool that can be used to promote health. Supply of handouts on health issues, health magazines; sharing knowledge and experiences with the parents, teachers and or adults can make a difference in combating kids’ health problems. A clean child is a healthier child, which is why parents need to teach their child the basics of proper and regular hygiene by example.
We can highlight the real reasons for children and their families’ lack of personal hygiene, and propose solutions that can be put into action in the classroom, boardroom, and within the local, state, and federal government systems. Working together with a clear, concise, and determined voice for children, we can help to shape a more promising future for us all. We should invest in high quality programs helping our children to reach their fullest potential in every way. Studies show that high quality early childhood programs make a positive difference in children’s learning and development. As an early childhood educator, I urge every one of us to start adapting such programs, in addition to include such topic as Kids’ Hygiene as an initial step towards educating children and their families the importance of daily personal hygiene. Kids are fast learners, and when they learn they help their families to know what they have learned. We must be conscious about our health and things which can affect our health; adapt and maintain high standards of good healthy practices –cleanliness is the answer to many health problems. Awareness of the health policies, health services, and support needed to give each child a great healthy living is every adult’s responsibility, and early childhood educators are in good position to further push this responsibility of raising the health standard in our care settings. Awareness of the importance of the formative years is growing, but public awareness of the policies and support for health practices is not yet universal.
As an advocate for young children’s healthy living, and an early childhood educator, I need to make sure that I am an active messenger of health awareness practices in homes, child care settings, and beyond. As early childhood educators we can work together through our associations to educate policy makers about this particular problem -kids’ hygiene that young children face. It is from any level of advocacy that caring adults take a stand on behalf of children. Starting with children and their families in our care programs, we can encourage them to be vigilant on the issue of good hygiene for good health. Education and learning for our young kids starts at home at a very young age. Sharing our experiences, our knowledge, our views, beliefs, and philosophies on health practices with individual family or groups can make difference in children’s health and for all families as a whole. Focusing on cleanliness, daily personal hygiene practices is an answer to many health problems. We can make it mandatory that before taking your child to school your child is clean-clean body, clean clothes, e.g. no head lice, or odor coming from your little child. Keeping your child’s body clean is an important part of keeping your child healthy and helping your child feels good about himself or herself. Caring about the way your child look is important to his or her self-esteem (what he or she thinks about himself or herself). By the way, your child does not need to wear the latest designer clothing to look good! There are other things adults, parents, and or families can do which are much more important for your child’s image, i.e., maintain daily hygienic practices.
‘A clean child is a healthy child’. Germs float freely through the air and have taken residence on your child’s favorite toys, on your child’s skin, hair, or clothes. They are everywhere. What can parents do about it? What can we, early childhood educators do about it? Prevent and protect your child and yourself from unwanted unhealthy daily practices. Clean means healthy. Fight germs through cleanliness and daily hygienic practices. Keep yourself, your child, and your surroundings clean and free of germs. Hands have them, the hair hide them, the body and skin keep them; even the nose and mouth expose them. Keep our bodies clean and they won’t seek refuge on us. Good hygiene is not just keeping your child presentable, but an active means of preventing the spread of germs and illnesses. It is a simple as this: ‘A clean child is a healthy child’. Proper daily hygiene practice is crucial for school-age children, because most illnesses are contracted and spread in schools, care centers, where little noses, mouths, and hands spread germs. When taught early, proper daily hygiene practices can lead to a life time of cleanliness and good health. Kids and germs go hand in hand, which is why parents need to teach the importance of good daily personal hygiene practices and the consequences of not practicing it. We need health policies which suit our needs; policies which helps to ensure health and well-being in child care settings, schools, and homes; policies which helps to prevent health problems from home to school or care facilities; policies which promote healthy practices for the children, the care providers, and the families. Early childhood educators who have specific health policies addressing area of personal hygiene can improve the care and health of children in care. Some adults and or families are lazy, ignorant, or just not aware, and circumstances such as poor or low-income pose risks or cause them to experience sub-standard care for their children.
We can discuss such situations with them, provide them necessary information, handouts on healthy issues, and direct them to the community health services where they can get help. Appraisals, screenings, assessment, referral are processes which can be used by the early care professionals to help identify health problems in a child. All these can be used as a tool for health prevention, protection, and promotion.
Keeping health records and recording health status of children is every adult’s responsibility. It helps to identify areas of improvement, and helps to maintain up-to-date health check-ups and immunizations for our children. Young children must receive vaccinations to prevent childhood diseases, and any disease which can lead to epidemic levels. There are high risks and high rates of illnesses for children in child care settings and schools than for children at home for the first two years of life. To keep forming and educating parents that cleanliness is crucial in solving many of such illnesses at home, at school and at the child care settings. The environment we live in supports our healthy living, as well as affects our healthy living. We should provide a physically and mentally healthy environment, for children, their families and staff – providing a child an optimum environment for good physical and mental health is every early care educator’s responsibility.
Implications of daily hygienic practices:
The early childhood educators have so much power to make a difference in a child’s life as well as that of his or her family. We are partners in nurturing and educating children and their families. Children’s attitudes and behavior in relation to health or daily personal hygiene is affected by the adults they observe. The well-being of children is influenced by parents, teachers, care providers, and or adults’ practices, knowledge and skills. Parents, teachers, care providers, and or adults can be role model, cultural competent, use their education, experiences, leadership and supervision to influence health, hence healthy practices. Strategies and practices for health education and policies, cultural sensitivity, role model and supervision in schools and child care settings can be used as tools to promote good health and health practices.
Teach and show how by applying the knowledge you have to provide a healthy environment for our children. A care provider who teaches children to use healthy practices and model those behaviors can also help parents learn and become role models to their children. Care provider’s actions set the stage for children to learn from those actions. If a care provider encourage children to wash their hands a certain way but does not do it in the same manner, the children will not readily adopt those hand washing techniques. If a care provider comes to work sick, the children will wonder why they stay home when sick. Children often act as photocopy of us by repeating what they see and hear. As Haim Ginott’s description of effect that a teacher’s actions can have on a child:
I have come to a frightening conclusion. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, a child humanized or de-humanized ( Teacher and Child, 1972 - p.15)
NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment, 2005, recognizes the enormous power a teacher or care provider can have over a child, draws the ideals and principles to protect the child from such power being wrongly used,
“to appreciate the vulnerability of children and their dependence on adults (I-1.5)”, and the need, “to create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions (I-1.5)”. In addition, “above all, we shall not harm children…(P-1.1)”, and so our responsibility includes , “ to advocate for and ensure that all children including those with special needs, have access to the support services needed to be successful (I-1.9)”.
As an early childhood professional, I choose to use my power to create a climate which is favorable for children’s safety and healthy experiences, to make their lives joyous. To inspire children by being a good example to them, to enable them reach their fullest potential. To bring humor, laughter, and heal their souls where there is misery, sadness, and sorrow; to brighten their day and solve their daily crisis, to restore their humanity and dignity. That is what the book, ‘A Clean Kid Is a Healthier Kid’ intends to do and I want to accomplish. It is important for early childhood professionals to take lead in the quest to improve the lives of children. Together we can speak out through sharing our knowledge, experiences and or expertise with parents, teachers, and or adults who work with the children join together to form one voice on what we see in our children, in our care settings; take the lead on what to do, and how.
By doing so we are advocating the best interests and needs of the children in the care setting and everywhere.
What are the Benefits of Reading ‘A Clean Kid Is A Healthier Kid’
“…every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up…”
- Pablo Picasso
Caring about the way your child looks is important to his or her self-esteem. Keeping your child’s body clean is an important part of keeping your child healthy and helping the child to feel good about himself or herself. It promotes self-esteem and self-confidence. Good hygiene is not just keeping your child presentable, but an active means of preventing the spread of germs and illnesses. It is as simple as this: “A clean child is a healthier child.” When taught early on proper daily hygiene practices can lead to a life time of cleanliness and good health. Kids and germs go hand-in-hand that is why parents need to teach the importance of daily personal hygiene practices and the consequences of not practicing it.
How can we help children to understand the importance of hygienic practices to better healthy living? Shouldn’t these children need us and rely on us in providing them best care and good living conditions? We can help children build up their own picture of themselves by being a little like a mirror to them. Children are copies of adults; they copy what adults do, and therefore, we need to teach them the beauty of taking good care of their bodies. If children are clean and tidy, it is because we teach them and become good example to them. If children see that we think they are dull and lazy, or we do not set good example, this helps to make them dull and lazy. If children see that we think and help them to become bright and hardworking, this helps to make them bright and hardworking. Children will not believe a person who does not behave in the way that person tells them to behave. So what should we adults do? Set good example, be a role model, and combat children’s health problems through hygienic practices / cleanliness. Children’s well-being physically and mentally depends on the kind of relationship they have with adults. We can help and guide children develop good habits and attitudes on healthy living.
Parents are pivot to their children’s learning and development. Kid’s hygiene, caring for our bodies, and how children can look after their bodies is the focus of “A CLEAN KID IS A HEALTHIER KID.” Whatever the background the children come from – poor homes, living in the village, or in the towns, with little basic necessities, or excessive basic necessities, cleanliness support healthy living and prevent many health problems. Cleanliness is a basis of healthy living, and children are capable of applying it in their daily lives in order to stay and live healthily. All young children need to grow up in a healthy, safe, happy, and nurturing environment. Today’s young children will be tomorrow’s parents, teachers, doctors, and public leaders.
What to Expect from Reading “A Clean Kid Is A Healthier Kid”
“…children are naturally curious, creative, imaginative, and always eager to learn…”
- Author, A Clean Kid Is A Healthier Kid
While most children’s health books policies, conferences, seminars, and or workshops have concentrated on food, i.e. eat healthy-what to eat and not to eat to be and stay healthy, in comparison, very little has been written or said about importance of kids hygiene or cleanliness in the overall goal of keeping clean and staying healthy. My experience as a volunteer teacher during my university years and presently as an Early Childhood Educator, have shown me how unaware many children are of the subject. Worse of all parents too are falling in the same ditch. Parents play a major role in their children’s learning. Learning starts at home at a very early age. All children need adults who can support their early learning; all children need adults who can show them how; all children need adults who can speak out on their behalf-whether it is for personal hygiene, increased access to health care, better housing and safe communities, or opportunities for high-quality early care and education, clean clothes, clean water, or clean food.
Personal hygiene is very important for everybody’s health - adults as well as children. In order to prepare children from their very young ages on how to care for their bodies, my book will focus on the understanding of regular basic health practices as it relate to healthy living. A clean child is a healthier child, which is why parents need to teach their children the basics of proper and regular hygiene by example. My desire to write on the issue of kids’ hygiene is a result of my commitment and the awareness of my responsibilities as a woman, a mother, an early childhood educator, and an advocate for young children. I am interested in advocating the importance of promoting good health, kids’ hygiene in the overall goal of cleanliness, healthy bodies and healthy living.
Conclusion:
By no means do I consider myself an expert in the field of health, and I am grateful and supportive of those who have extensively written about children’s health: health environment, health policies, and health education for the young children. These are health tools which use one word “advocacy”-they live advocacy through example, and we early care educators owe the children advocacy through example. Health education starts at home. All young children need to grow up in a healthy, safe, and clean environment. Today’s young children will be tomorrow’s parents, teachers, doctors, public leaders.
