Kids and Personal Hygiene
Summer is here! Summer means more play, more sweat and more dirt! I know my daughter has been out riding her bike, going to the park and just wanting to be outside (which is a great thing!).
With the weather turning warm and sticky, people tend to wash or bathe more to keep up with their personal cleanliness. Do you keep your children clean from all the sweat and dirt? Or do you let them go for another day or so? Everyone is different in their routine. When do you find your child starts caring about their personal hygiene? Is it a phase? is there a particular age?
My daughter is 8 1/2 yrs old and is just starting to have showers on her own. She still prefers baths, but this is a big step for her. I tell her to wash really good and make sure to get in her ears, her back, etc… and she just says “I KNOW”, “I KNOW”!! Yeah, she knows! I try not to fret about it as it is a good start for her. She loves using the shower wash from The Rad Kat. I usually ask her what she wants and the same answer is: Chocolate! While we don’t have Chocolate body wash, we do have Chocolate hand wash. Usually for the kids we recommend something without peppermint or ‘stingy’ essential oils, as their bodies can still be very sensitive. We have quite a few that would be great for kids; lavender, Languish (Orange/Bergamot), Karma (Patchouli/Frankincense), Coconut and a new one coming out Metro (Lavender, Patchouli, Orange, Ylang Ylang) which has been a favourite in the Jumbo sized body wash. Body washes are usually easier for young ones to use, as they can squeeze some into their wash cloth and go from there.
For the tween and teens, the summer brings oily skin, which leads to acne. We have this great Organic bar soap that helps with this cause. It is our Eucalyptus/Tea Tree soap with fine loofah. Our new recipe is going to include Willow Bark. Willow Bark helps as an anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce breakouts. Inflammation can be the source of a lot of skin problems including acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, etc.. It is also a natural source of salicylic acid and is much more gentle than over the counter medicines. It helps to naturally exfoliate the skin and clear pores to reduce breakouts.
Here are some Tips for you and your children to keep refreshed this Summer
- Be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially if you're going to be outside. Give your child a water bottle to carry with them so that they are hydrated while playing. The water flushes out the toxins from the body and also provides fluidity for the flow of blood.
- Make sure to clean your face regularly. Sweat and oil can accumulate and clog your pores, making your face feel dirty and heavy.
- Style your hair so that it's off your neck and away from your face.
- Keep kids out of mid-day sun: Try to keep your kids out of direct sunlight. The peak hours are usually from 12-3 so instead, engage them in indoor activities during that time.
- Shower every day. Use exfoliating shower gel to clean off the grime.
- Fresh juices and lemon water: Drink fresh juices, as they replenish the fluids that are lost in sweat.
- Light colour clothing: Make your child (or yourself) wear light colour clothing as light colours absorb heat better during bright summer days and allows sweat to evaporate.
- Sunscreen cover: Always apply a good sunscreen, with a high SPF factor. You can also make them wear hats and shades to protect from direct sunlight.
- No junk food: Try to avoid eating a lot of spicy junk food like pizza, pasta and burgers. Instead go for fresh fruits like watermelons and kiwi, as they have antioxidant properties and water content which helps in preventing dehydration.
Try one of the refreshing Organic Bar Soaps or Body Washes that The Rad Kat offers! Some of our favourite bar soaps are: Lemongrass/Lime Sea Salt Scrub, Orange Ginger, Lemongrass/Eucalyptus with Pink Himalayan Salt, Lavender Clay.
Some of our favourite refreshing body washes are: Forbidden Fruit (Grapefruit), Raw Twist (Lemongrass/Lime), Sassafraz (Peppermint/Green Tea).
