Need help finding things for my daughter

[freesurfer]

She's nine years old and has a forgetful memory. What I mean is I need ideas, free products, or sites that will help me come up with ways to help her remember the deoderant, brushing the hair, the teeth, you name it. Anything to be clean and presentable in public. For some reason?? it's not important enough to her and kids tease her. Now she's ready to wear a b** and I'm really scared of that prospect....help anyone??

[jen6889]

Your's too??? My 6 year old can not remember to brush her teeth, change her underwear, etc. I've have to force her to change her underwear every day (quite a difference from my 4 yr old son who is obsessed with changing his underwear every time he changes clothes!). Thank heavens she doesn't need deodorant yet because she'd probably forget that too. She FINALLY started to remember to brush her hair every morning, but she could care less if it's sticking up, frizzy, part crooked, etc. There have been days where I was embarrassed to send her to school! She has been made fun of by the older girls on the buss for "nasty looking teeth", bad breath, and messy hair. She has even been teased for her hair by the kids in her class. If I fix it - put in barrettes or a Ponytail holder or whatever, she just pulls it out on the bus before she gets to school. Her school picture this year looks horrible because she pulled the ponytail holders out of her hair and took off her sweater. Her hair was all sticking up and the white shirt on pale blue background - ugh!

Last month, her Girl Scout Troop was given a Teeth Brushing Chart and they had to brush their teeth twice daily for a week to earn some good hygiene badge. She remembered to brush for the first couple of days, then she kept forgetting. Needless to say, she didn't get that badge!

I thought of suggesting a chart for your dd, but if it didn't work for mine, it may not work for yours either? Then again, the chart was only for brushing her teeth and not everything else and the chart was kept on the refridgerator rather than in a place she could see it every day too. Maybe I will try that chart thing again....

If anybody has any ideas on helping Freesurfer keep her daughter clean PLEASE post them!! My daughter could use them too!!

[CountrySun2Sea]

My sister has a 6 yr old daughter who refuses to brush her teeth, so I dont think it is really anything wrong with your kids...it's just a KID THING...lol..anyway, my sister made up a chart with different things on it...brushing your teeth, cleaning your room folding towels,,,,etc...and she has to get so many "stars" on each row and she will get a prize. Usually something small from the dollar store...but they dont know that. She bought the stuff BEFORE she made the chart and she had bought like 5 different things..and showed them all to my neice and sat her down and said "OK...you have to get this many stars on your chart, then you can pick the prize you want"....so far so good. Funny thing is, now she thinks she can get all the stars in one day.....lol...NOT!! ((Nice try though, kid...))

[GR8GIRLS]

I've worked with children most of my working life. Let me give you a piece of advice...do not constantly get on her back for not doing her hygiene. She will just tune you out. The idea of the star/prize chart is a really good one (I've suggested it many times), just don't make the prizes too big. Also, make a really big fuss when she does perform these chores, kids respond much better to positive feedback thatn to negative fedback (don't we all?!?!?!). Good Luck, and keep us posted!!!

[ILoveElf]

One that worked for one of the foster kids my wife took in was to use free samples.She put that days samples in a bag in the bathroom for the girl to use in the morning before school. Then would ask her questions about if she liked this product better than the one she used the day before.It opened up a way for them to talk about cleaning onesself without it being about you need to do this and discuss things like one shampoo leaving her hair feeling nicer and easier to brush or not liking the taste of certain toothpastes.
My son will not brush his teeth with some toothpastes because of the taste.If she is into American Girl books they have a book All about Me that talks about cleaning yourself.My wife bought it for a relatives girl but the name tag came off(my son got it and she his How it works book).

[cata5]

It definitely is a kid thing. They just need to be reminded and you're probably going to have to accept that for now.

My 9 yr old son comes down for school every day and when I ask him if he brushed his teeth he says "yes" (EVERY day) Then I look at his teeth and suggest he try again. What has helped with the teeth brushing is buying an electric tooth brush or the spin brushes. AND if they don't like the toothpaste they will never brush properly.

The good thing is that by the time they get into Jr high they usually want to look good. Too bad their teeth have already suffered!!

Re: hair...have you thought about cutting her hair short? Or shorter? My girls learned to do lots of things with their hair by about 4th grade because they couldn't keep it long if it was a mess all the time. Now that they are in grades 6,9, and 10 they have beautiful hair and it is a different style every day!


BTW, I just worked at our school carnival and I could've told you with my eyes shut when a 5th grader walked by! LOL (P.U.)

[bonniejeanne]

My oldest hates washing. My youngest has always washed up after eating, playing, etc. I remember when his first grade class had a popsicle party outside. He was the only kid who went and asked the teacher if he could go to the bathroom and wash up. She was amazed that he was so concerned about cleanliness. My oldest (now 15) has to be told to wash at times. He especially hates washing his face. I remember when he was younger and I'd ask him to wash his hands. He'd go to the bathroom and run the water and come out again. I'd ask him if he washed them, and he'd reply "yes." Then I'd smell his hands. Of course there was no nice soapy smell, so I knew he hadn't washed them. It took him awhile to realize how I knew he hadn't washed them. LOL.

[freesurfer]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I thought about finding little girl freebies online and having them sent to her in the mail so she can be excited about getting new things to try just for 'girls". Keep the help coming!!