You know that regular brushing and flossing are important for strong and healthy teeth, but how do you teach your children the right techniques? How do you make sure that they are doing a good job? In today’s post, we’ll look at some specific tips that should help you as you teach your child these important skills. By properly setting the stage, you can help your preschool child get excited about performing an important task on their own, which should help them develop good lifelong dental habits.
At Growing Room, we understand that preschool education is about so much more than just learning to read and write. There are many different skills that you work to teach your child everyday, and we want to partner with you to help them learn and grow. From creative playtime and storytime to field trips and more, we strive to offer the best preschool education in Ft. Myers. Contact us today to schedule a free tour of our child development center.
1. Let Your Child Pick the Toothbrush
While it might not be the best idea to set your child down in front of the entire toothbrush section and tell them to pick one, there are some ways that you can let them take ownership of this small task. Find the section dedicated to toothbrushes for children, pick out several, and then let your child choose the one they like the best. This seemingly small step will help them to feel like they are performing a “big person” task and develop some eager anticipation about brushing their teeth.
2. Set Realistic Expectations
It’s good to remind yourself that your child is very young and will not be able to brush their teeth as well as you can. While this may seem obvious, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and find yourself frustrated with their inability to properly brush their teeth. By setting realistic expectations, you’ll be able to respond with a calm voice and a positive attitude. Remember that the more your child practices, the better they will be.
3. Take Turns
Another option to help make sure that your child’s teeth are fully clean is to take turns brushing their teeth. You could choose to let them brush their teeth all on their own in the morning each day so that they can start the day feeling like the big kid they are. At night, when it’s your turn to brush their teeth, you can make sure that they do not have food on their teeth or gums while they’re sleeping.
4. Set a Good Example
Little children learn as much by observation as they do by listening to what you tell them. As a result, it is very important that you set a good example by brushing your teeth with them. While you don’t have to brush your teeth in front of them every single time, the more they see the techniques you use when you brush and how long you brush, the more likely they are to emulate what they see.
5. Visit the Dentist
Last, but definitely not least, it is important to take them to the dentist for regular cleanings. This will help them see that what you are teaching them at home is correct and important. It should also help them to associate dentist visits with positive experiences so that they aren’t afraid of the dentist as they grow up.
At Growing Room in Ft. Myers, we love to help young children learn all of the skills they will need to grow into happy and healthy adults. By hanging posters about proper tooth care, having local dentists come in to talk with the kids, and more, we can work with you to help them understand the importance of proper brushing.
If you are looking for a quality child development center, then please contact us today to learn more about our preschool education curriculum, and schedule a free tour of our facilities in Ft. Myers.