theChat.scot

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Talking about keeping clean

For 3- to 5-year-olds talking and learning on this topic is best done in a relaxed way, day-to-day as they get up in the morning, shower/bath, or get ready for bed. It is often about establishing some of the daily things we do – brush our teeth, wash our hands after going to the toilet, brushing/combing our hair, having a bath.

You can explain that keeping clean is important so that you can keep healthy. So that if you don’t keep yourself and your things clean, then germs can grow and make you ill.

You can read some tips here about toothbrushing at home: Childsmile at home – Childsmile (nhs.scot)

Find out what is happening at nursery or school. They will have routines and ways of talking and learning about things like toothbrushing and hand washing. The nursery or school should explain this to you, but if they don’t, just ask.

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Songs

These songs can help you to prompt a chat about hygiene and daily routines. (When viewing something on YouTube you can skip adverts and set it up to play).

A song about all the routines of getting up in the morning.

A song about all the routines of getting ready and going to bed.

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Books

You might like to read these books together. Your library or nursery might have them, or you can ask a library if they will order a book for you.

What if your dragon is having problems with personal hygiene? Then you can teach him to brush his teeth, wash his hands, change his clothes, take a bath and use a tissue to sneeze.

From brushing teeth to taking showers and cleaning nails, it introduces essential skills using simple language and pictures. 

An illustrated introduction. It includes names for parts of the body, the senses, clothes, things we can do, and what our bodies need to stay healthy.

Contains the answers to the many questions that curious children have about their bodies, including ‘How do I smell?’ ‘What makes me burp?’ ‘Why do I need to wash my hands?’ ‘Why is blood red?’ and many more.

Helps children learn how not to share germs by covering up sneezes or coughs, and handwashing.