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Getting kids to take a bath is a very hard chore for most parents. I don’t know why that is, since bathing is actually fun and rejuvenating for me. I never went through the phase of hating every minute of shower time. However, for the parents who have children very different from me, meaning they hate bathing, here are a few tips that should help.

One of the most common mistakes parents make is shouting and nagging their kids to take a bath. Doing this will only make matters worse, since kids will become afraid and hate bathing all the more. Instead of scolding your kids, you should do something more creative that can give them a reason to get cleaned up.

First of all, explain to your kids why bathing is important. Tell them all the dreadful details about germs, bacteria, body odor, etc. Discuss all the advantages of taking a bath, like feeling and looking clean, being more attractive to others, and smelling good. That ought to force teenagers to do it. Young kids, on the other hand, are harder to explain to since they can’t fully understand the extent of the harm done by not taking a bath. Aside from the explaining you should do, add another approach.

Young kids like an inviting place to take a bath. This can also apply to teenagers. One way to do this is by placing some fun stuff inside the bathroom. For example, if your kid is at the tender age of three to five, you could probably put some toys in the bathtub. On the other hand, if the kid’s a teenager, you should put something that’s more grown up. A good choice would be a stereo or a speaker for his iPod. That way, he can listen to it while cleaning himself. Doing these things should lessen their aversion to bathing and even make it fun for everyone.

Another idea for parents is to make bubble baths. That is, if your child still has time to fool around. Kids love to play with bubbles by making some cute images and putting it on their body. However, since some kids may be sensitive to bubbles, you should take precaution. Look for any signs that he’s irritated and immediately wash him off.

For a more productive time with your kids, you can even sing to them while in the bath. Especially with young kids who need someone to help them with bathing, singing will keep them keep interested. Perhaps, they will start to like the idea and continue on their own.

Some parents think that paying or bribing their child to take a bath is the answer. This is a temporary solution, and in the long run, isn’t good for both of you. Imagine paying him at least twice a week for something that’s beneficial to him? It’s a big waste of money, especially if he doesn’t know how to keep it. Also, what happens if you stop paying him? Will he also stop bathing? That just is not a good solution at all.  Instead of a bribe, give your child something far more worthy: your praise. Praise him for a job well done and keep on encouraging him to do it regularly. And while you’re at it, keep on reminding him the benefits of bathing. This is important so that if ever you stop the praise, he will still continue with the task.

As a parent forcing a child into bathing, you should be a good example to him. Bathe regularly yourself, and make sure that he sees that. This will let him know it’s really important which is why you do it yourself. Besides, you cannot expect him to follow your orders when you yourself aren’t doing what is necessary. The times you bathe in a week actually varies. It depends on where and how you live. If you live in a polluted city and you always sweat, then a daily bath is needed. For some, twice a week is enough, although this is still not recommended. In Asian countries, particularly tropical countries, people even bathe twice a day. If your child thinks he has it hard, make him think again.

Bathing is supposed to be a daily regimen. With its benefits, you can never go wrong here. It cleanses the body, rejuvenates the skin, and keeps you smelling nice all day. Having a body is a huge turn-off for everyone. You don’t want your child to experience that.