Inculcating proper grooming in your children and teenagers can help lead to lifelong good habits. HEALTH meets an expert who explains how this can be done.
The Basics
The process of teaching your child proper grooming habits starts right after they are born and will endure for many years. The amount of time spent helping to teach your child about proper grooming will depend on several key things that include the child’s age, skill level and interest.
According to Aesthetic Specialist Mona Syed Mirza, grooming in children is basically about teaching children good hygiene habits and
something very worthwhile. “Aside from keeping up appearances and not offending others, it’s important for children to learn lifelong habits of good hygiene to keep them healthy and prevent the spread of common illnesses,” she explains. “Also teach children to take pride in their appearance by praising how smart they look, and how fresh they smell after a bath”. Essentially, grooming and hygiene are interlinked; for example, hair should be washed regularly in order to remove a build-up of dirt and germs to maintain cleanliness. Regular brushing and combing, she adds, combats dirt and helps in maintaining a smart appearance.
Paving the Way for Good Habits
Grooming and personal hygiene are interlinked. Teens of today, tells Syed-Mirza, are more aware of “how they appear” to the outside world and in fact, groomed individuals are more likely to have higher self-esteem and are generally more confident as a result of being more acceptable by societal norms. “A teen is more likely to get a summer job if he or she looks presentable and in fact, turning up to a summer job
interview with an unkempt look will not add to your credibility,” she points out. “When grooming habits become a habit at an early age, they generally tend to stay till you are an adult.”
In Teens
Good grooming habits in your teens can increase their self-esteem. “When your teen reaches puberty, his/her sweat glands become more active, and as they do, you may develop body odor, which is easily controlled with an antiperspirant or deodorant,” she says, reminding that both help mask the odors. Your teenager’s feet may also develop a stronger smell. Frequent showering can help him/her feel and smell fresh and clean. Initially younger teens may find it problematic to change their routines and wash their faces much more however it’s important
they get into these habits. Provide your teenager with acne treatment products, concealer for blemishes, and soaps and moisturizers that are effective. “As your teenager’s skin is changing and becoming oilier, a mild PH balanced product to cleanse the skin and help fight breakouts is advised,” she explains. “Also ensure he/she drinks enough water; at least six to eight glasses a day and consumes plenty of fruits and vegetables.”
Making Grooming Fun
- Starting from the bubble bath to brushing his/her teeth, use bright toys and fun products to enrich the overall experience.
- Grooming begins early on and parents need to make it a habit from the onset.
- Kids learn from example so watching parents doing the same thing encourages them to emulate the same actions.
- Praise your child when he or she looks well groomed. Kids thrive on compliments.
- Buy them fruit scented soaps, shower gels and body sprays to make it fun.
- Buy your teens small grooming kits, make up and shaving kits with personal grooming products. Try and look for mineral based / organic products which are paraben free.
- Educating teens on the right kind of products at an early age is essential and certainly worth it in the long run.
