theChat.scot

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Talking about keeping clean and personal hygiene

At this age children can become more independent with the daily tasks of personal hygiene – although they might still need reminders and help. If your child needs specific help, you will know what that is and you and they can use some of the suggested conversation starters and resources that work for you.

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Conversation starters

You can use this definition and these questions.

What is personal hygiene? Hygiene is about keeping clean so that you can keep healthy. Every child has the right to be healthy, and to good hygiene.

So, what parts of our body do we need to keep clean? How do we keep ourselves clean? So, what do you need to do every day? Or regularly? What do you like to do on your own? Anything you like to get some help with?

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What’s going on because of puberty?

You will be chatting and learning together about puberty at around this age – maybe some changes are noticeable, some not yet. There are other sections in this Talking About part of the resource that will help those conversations. But when it comes to Keeping Clean here are a few things worth thinking about together.

Oily hair: Each strand of hair has its own oil gland that keeps the hair shiny and waterproof. During puberty, when the glands produce extra oil, it can make your hair look too shiny, oily, and greasy. Washing your hair regularly can help control oily hair.

Spots: This can be called acne or pimples. You get spots with puberty because your skin gets oily. You can get spots on your face, chest, back and bottom. You need to keep your skin clean. Try not to squeeze your spots, they will get dirty and infected.

Sweat and body odour: When puberty begins you will sweat more. Your sweat glands produce a new body odour with a stronger smell. Sweat can cause our body or clothes to smell bad. This is called body odour (or B.O.) You will notice sweat and new smells under your arms and maybe your feet and genitals (private parts). If you keep your body and your clothes clean, including changing your socks and pants, then bacteria (the stuff that smells) is less likely to grow.

Try to wash regularly.

Oral hygiene: Puberty doesn’t make a different to your oral hygiene so just keep brushing your teeth.

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Safety and public toilets.

Children this age should be accompanied or supervised at a safe distance if they go to a toilet in a public place like a supermarket, café, cinema, library or shopping mall. Of course they want to be independent, but they are young.

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Hygiene and genitals (private parts)

Both girls and boys can begin to learn some good routines for the care of their genitals. Here are some reminders and tips you can give.

For girls:

You should be quite gentle when you wash around your vulva, don’t scrub.
Don’t use very hot water.
Try not to use shampoo or bubble bath on that area of your body.
When you dry yourself, just pat gently.
If you are ever uncomfortable or itchy please tell me and I can help. 

For boys:

(For all)
Wash around your penis gently, using the soap/shower gel you use.
Don’t use very hot water.
Rinse of the soapiness from your penis and scrotum/testicles.
When you dry yourself, just pat gently.
If you are ever uncomfortable or itchy please tell me and I can help. 

(If the boy has foreskin)
If you foreskin comes back gently then you can wash there, but don’t be rough and pull it back. It will come back over the head of your penis once you have cleaned and rinsed it. If you have any problems with the foreskin coming back talk to me – don’t be embarrassed.

If your child hears the word smegma you can explain what that is.

Smegma is when oils and skin cells and sweat gather in or around your genitals/private parts. It can have an unpleasant smell. If you look after your personal hygiene as we have talked about you shouldn’t have to worry about this. But talk to me if you think it is happening.

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Animations

When you watch something on Youtube you can set it up in advance and skip adverts.

Says for boys but true for all.

In this BrainPOP video, Tim and Moby go beneath the surface to explore the importance of personal hygiene.

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Books

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

This text describes what takes place in the body at the time of puberty. It contains sections on sex and contraception, food, exercise, hygiene and drugs and other problems both physical and emotional.

Hands-on activities with repetition and reinforcement. Suitable for children and young people with learning and developmental disabilities.

Ellie notices that her body is changing. Hair is growing in new places and there are other changes happening too. Helps teach girls with autism and related conditions about puberty.

Tom notices that his body is changing. Tom’s voice is different, and hair is growing in new places. There are other changes happening too. Helps teach boys with autism and related conditions about puberty.