Across southern Ohio, families are getting ready for a new school year. They're stocking up on supplies, filling out forms, and easing back into sleep routines. At Adena Health, we know that helping your child feel prepared goes beyond pencils and paper. So, in part two of our three-part back-to-school blog series, we are sharing healthy habits that build confidence and support everyday learning.
Talking about personal hygiene with your child can sometimes feel awkward, but it’s one of the best ways to help them stay healthy and feel confident at school. From handwashing to brushing teeth, small habits make a big difference.
In this blog, we’ll share simple hygiene tips you can use to help your child start the school year feeling clean, comfortable, and ready to learn.
Daily hygiene habits for kids
Daily hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help your child stay healthy during the school year. Clean hands, consistent habits, and simple self-care habits reduce the spread of germs and help keep kids in school and feeling their best.
Here are three key habits that can help your child build a strong hygiene routine as they head back to school:
Handwashing: A small step with a big impact
Handwashing helps stop the spread of illness, especially in busy school environments. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), washing hands with soap and water can significantly reduce respiratory illnesses, including the common cold, and gastrointestinal infections that spread in schools.
Encourage your child to wash their hands:
Before eating
After using the bathroom
After playing outside
After coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose
Make it easy to remember by turning it into a habit early. Younger kids may enjoy singing a short song to reach the 20-second mark. Older students may need reminders as they transition from their summer routines to the daily cadence of being at school.
Daily bathing: Building confidence and clean routines
We all know how hot and humid early fall can be here in southern Ohio. After outdoor play, after-school sports, and visits to the local fair, your child might come home tired and a little dirty. A daily bath or shower helps them reset, feel refreshed, and take pride in caring for their body.
Bathing also builds confidence. For children who are active or starting to experience the changes of puberty, it is an important part of feeling comfortable and ready for the day ahead.
We recommend helping your child find a bathing routine that fits naturally into your family’s schedule. Evening showers can be a relaxing way to wind down before bed, while morning baths might help them feel more alert and ready for the day.
If this is a new habit, we encourage starting with small, positive steps. Talk about bathing as a normal part of growing up and taking care of their body. With a little patience and support, hygiene can become a routine your child feels proud to manage on their own.
Brushing teeth: A habit that sticks
Getting kids to brush their teeth isn’t always easy, but it’s one of the most important habits you can help them build. Even with the daily reminders, tooth decay is still common. Nearly half of children ages 6 to 9 have had at least one cavity in their baby or adult teeth (cdc.gov). At Adena, we want to help families prevent these early issues so kids can stay focused on learning, growing, and enjoying school.
Here are a few tips on how to make brushing an effective part of your child’s routine:
Brush twice a day for two minutes each time
Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste
Replace toothbrushes every three months
Families can make brushing feel more engaging by doing it together, setting a timer, or letting children choose their toothbrush and toothpaste. These small touches help make it feel personal, consistent, and easy to stick with.
Supporting your child’s well-being, one habit at a time
Daily hygiene might seem like a small part of your child’s day, but over time, it adds up. Simple habits help kids feel more confident at school, more comfortable around friends, and ready to focus on learning. With steady guidance and support, these habits can become second nature.
Know that every step you take helps your child start the year feeling stronger, healthier, and ready to grow.
If you missed part one of our back-to-school health series, take a look at our post on restarting sleep routines. And stay tuned for the final post in the series, where we’ll focus on supporting your child’s mental and emotional health throughout the school year.