INTERVIEW womanthismonth.com | FEBRUARY 2025 73 As mums, we get how important it is to help our kids build good habits early on. When they hit those tween years, personal hygiene becomes a huge deal. (It starts that first time you get a whiff of some serious body odour coming from your once sweet-smelling baby!) Bringing up this topic can feel awkward, but with some smart strategies, you can have a candid conversation that steers your tween toward developing consistent personal hygiene routines. Timing is key. Find a moment when it’s just the two of you without any distractions. A relaxed, private setting works best – like a casual walk, in the car or while you’re fixing a snack or meal. It is helpful if you can make some eye contact every now and then, but not constantly staring them down. Why? It keeps you feeling connected without making it seem like a big lecture. Create a relaxed vibe where your tween feels comfortable talking about personal stuff. Reassure them you’re there to help and support, not criticise or judge. Start with an observation like: “Hey, I wanted to get your thoughts on something. I just discovered this new (fill in the blank) personal care product. I thought you might want to check it out.” Start by discussing why good hygiene is so important. Explain it’s a huge part of growing up, staying healthy and feeling confident socially. Break down what this includes: teeth, skin, hair and body odour. Helping them see it’s just an extension of what you’ve already been doing as a parent by bathing them and brushing their hair and teeth. But now they’re taking over those responsibilities. They will really get it once you point out the embarrassing thought of you still bathing them at their current age! Share some personal stories or examples that drive home why hygiene matters. This could be something from your own teen years or a friend’s experience figuring it out. Teaching our children good hygiene practices is an important stage in their development. Ouiam El Hassani shares her tips on how to approach this occasionally awkward challenge. How to talk about hygiene with tweens PARENTING
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