Parenting Advice: 5 Tips To Teach Your Teen Son Grooming And Self-Care Basics

As soon as puberty hits and the hormones start flowing, teens needs to be on top of their personal hygiene. Adolescence is a time to build on normal things like clean hands, body odour, smelly feet, bad breath, dental hygiene, periods and shaving.

For parents, raising a son is a wonderful adventure yet it can be a bit challenging to say the least. As they grow up, it’s important to teach the basics regarding self-care, grooming and survival skills.

You can be a role model for your child, and to help you with that below you can find 5 tips that have worked for Parenting Expert Jeannette Kaplun:

1. Explain, not preach: When you share facts, and knowledge, instead of telling him what to do, your son will tend to be more receptive. Guys are also very practical, so be as concrete as possible when explaining good self-care habits.
2. Hand over some control: Allow your son to choose his grooming products, body wash, and body spray, such as AXE YOU that takes classic notes like amber and vetiver, coriander leaves and black basil. That way he will also feel free to find what works best for him.
3. Make grooming part of a structured routine: Knowing what to expect (and when) can help organize your son during a time that can be overwhelming. The easier the routine is, the more guys tend to comply with it. It can be as basic as reminding him to shower as soon as he is done with sports practices or setting up a monthly haircut appointment. Especially during the teenage years, your son might act like he doesn’t need you anymore but he might overlook the basics until they become a habit.
4. Practice positive reinforcement: Instead of pointing out everything he is not doing (or doing incorrectly), praise what is working. Compliment him when his hair looks clean and well-kept or how refreshed he looks after his shower. Keep it brief and light-handed so he doesn’t feel suspicious or uncomfortable.
5. Never comment about his personal appearance in front of his friends: When your son is around his peers, be as unobtrusive as possible. A minor comment on your end might make him feel insecure around his friends.