Personal Hygiene

If your child gets lots of practise with independent personal hygiene before they start school, it will become a part of their every day routine!

‘Personal Hygiene’ includes washing their hands, blowing their nose, and going to the toilet independently.

There are lots of times when personal hygiene is important during the school day.

Your child might:

  • Get a tissue to blow their nose.
  • Wash and dry their hands before and after activities.
  • Ask the teacher to go to the toilet.
  • Go to the toilet independently including pulling clothing down and up and wiping their bottoms.

Helping your child practice these skills will help them enjoy their play and learning at school.

Top Tip

‘Toilet training’ can be one of the trickiest things to do and accidents will happen. This is all part of learning. It helps to give lots of praise when they get it right to encourage them.

Blowing Your Nose

Blowing your nose is important because it can help stop viruses spreading. It also makes it easier to breathe!

Why not try these activities to help your child practice?

Show how it's done

Blow your nose so your child can watch and learn how it’s done.

Bath time bubbles

Next time they’re in the bath, ask your child to practice blowing bubbles out of their nose.

Using a tissue

When your child has a snotty nose, wipe it for them with a tissue and ask them to blow into it.

Encourage them

When your child gets it right, praise them for doing a good job.

Washing Your Hands

Handwashing is a great habit and can help your child avoid getting ill. No more sticky fingers!

Have a go at teaching your child handwashing using the five steps below.

Top Tip

Practice makes perfect! Remember to show your child how to wash their hands lots of times.
  • 1

    Wet your hands

  • 2

    Rub on some soap

  • 3

    Wash hands

  • 4

    Rinse off the soap

  • 5

    Dry hands

Going to the Toilet

Potty training helps your little one be more independent.

Have a go at teaching your child how to use the toilet using the seven steps below.

  • 1

    Pants down

  • 2

    Sit on the toilet

  • 3

    Wipe your bottom

  • 4

    Pants off

  • 5

    Flush toilet

  • 6

    Wash hands

  • 7

    Dry hands

Top Tip

Give your child some help if they can’t remember. e.g., ‘What do you do after pulling up your pants? Yes, you flush the toilet.’

Personal Hygiene Activities

These activities can help you make personal hygiene more fun and build it into your child’s everyday life.

Handwashing race

Make handwashing more fun by setting a timer and asking your child to wash their hands within the time.

This will teach them the actions of handwashing and make them more likely to do it in future.

Germ transfer

Show your child how germs spread by using glitter or flour.

This can help them learn why it’s important to brush your teeth and wash your hands.

Handy Videos

These videos have more ideas you can try to boost your child’s understanding of personal hygiene.

This page is part of our Ready Steady School series, designed to help your little one make the most of their start to school life.

You might also find these other topics useful:

  • Recognising your name
  • Listening and attention
  • Making choices
  • Getting dressed
  • Talking
  • Hand and finger strength
  • Mealtime independence
  • Talking about your feelings