help with 6th grade hygeine discussion

Specialties School

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Specializes in Med/Surg, School and Camp Nursing.

I work as a school nurse in an elementary school. I am finding that some of my 6th graders do not shower or bathe on a daily basis, use deoderant or brush their teeth daily.

I am looking for some creative suggestions on how to reinforce the message that has already been discussed in health lessons by their teachers. I have a feeling they will tune me out if I stand in front of the class and directly remind them to wash, brush and apply deoderant.

Thanks in advance. :nuke:

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I have been a middle school teacher for 13 years ,(I'm making a career change to nursing), and you have to talk to them like they are young adults and not children. I am very frank with them. I start out telling them that they are young adults and there are responsiblities that they have to start doing. I explain that as their bodies change it starts to put off odors. Then I explain the importance of brushing their teeth, taking a bath, washing their clothes, and using deoderant. I also use the fact that the boys are figuring out that the girls don't have coodies and vise versa. This put them at ease and gets a laugh, but when you tell them that if there is that someone special that they want to talk to they sure don't want to smell and run them off. This works with my personality and how I interact with the students. The biggest thing is to tell them that they are young adults and don't sugar coat everything you say to them. I have found that getting to the facts and this is how it is works best.

Good Luck.

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Specializes in NICU.

Can you get some freebies to pass out? My 6th grader thinks the free deoderant he got in school is the neatest thing. He wears it every day and he doesn't look like he's heading into puberty anytime soon :).

They may not know the correlation between bacteria on the skin/teeth and odor. That could be an interesting angle.

Maybe explain that pimples will be less likely to occur with clean faces and hair.

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I do gross out my 7th graders when we do the microbiology section on bacteria and viruses. It is amazing how many want to wash their hands! :D Yes I do cover the bacteria we have on our body. We calculate how fast a "bad" bacteria cell, that a gross 6th grader coughed on them, would multiply and be on them by the time they left school. (over 2 million from just one) I tell them "you never really sleep alone, they're all there with you." GROSS!!!!!!

Gets them every time. :lol2:

We cover the bacteria that live in our bodies. The "special ones" that cause us to fart. (They love to say that word!)

I use this trivia to teach them, and tell them to tell there parents because I bet they don't know. I have had more parents tell me how much their child has opened up (at dinner) and shares what they have learned in class. Kids love to know something that their parents don't know. It lends to great communication between parent and child.

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I love freebie bags with personal items too. Remember those pink pills we used to get when we were little so we could see how bad we brushed our teeth? Maybe one of those to check out how well they are doing. Maybe some gross slides to illustrate DOs and DONTs like a photo of sneakers filled with cat litter! and a photo of sneaks in the closet. I don't know how many pairs of sneakers have ruined a good day at school! A nice photo of lice? and a really clean and shiney hair shot. How about some nasty fingernails? and some nice, manicured ones? Maybe some before and afters asking the question: who would you like to be with/dating/sharing a sleepover? I liked that dating angle. Maybe the local sports/shoe store would give you a certificate to raffle off for 100 a hundred percent on your post test! They could get themselves a new pair of sneakers or shoes! Have fun with it.

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Specializes in ED, School Nursing.

freebies and freak outs! to the masses!

but I have several kids who need more 1:1 time and for that I speak frankly and in plain, real words. I say BM, member, lady parts, blood, breasts, and I don't laugh...sometimes I am even impressed with that! I try to speak to them with honesty and encourage them to return with questions because they are usually in shock that an adult said member! or BO. Humor helps balanced with seriousness.

These are the kids that don't have that support at home and we are sub-moms in those cases...sad really.

But on a lighter note... I had a great time when I had to explain TESTICULAR TORSION to a large group of 6th graders!!! member, member, member!!!LOL!!!!:bugeyes::lol2:

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I have found that they do listen when "The Nurse" comes into the classroom. More than they listen to their teacher that they hear every day. I too, tell it like it is. You are growing up and you need to take responsibility for yourself. Also make sure they know that just because they shower every day, if they put on the same stinky clothes, it doesn't help. I know...sounds pretty obvious, but in the mind of a 12 year old...

After speaking to the group, I have had teachers sent me the one or 2 kids that haven't improved and I speak to them one on one. While for most of them it's just a matter of hygiene, there may be one or 2 whose moms work a lot and don't get the laundry done. Perhaps the house is dirty and the parents smell the same way, perhaps they don't have many clothes. Perhaps the cat uses the dresser drawer as a litter box. Sounds far fetched, but true. Not the majority, but something to keep in mind if it's only one.

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