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Have a boy who hates to shower?
You are not alone!
When a mom recently asked the Building Boys Facebook group, “Anyone else have a teenage boy who hates to shower?” she was quickly inundated with support and sympathy.
Personal hygiene, it seems, is not a priority for most tween and teen boys.
Lots of moms said they’re dealing with the exact same issue. Others said that their boys spend a lot of time in the shower, but come out with unwashed, still-dirty hair.
Is this lack of interest in appearance and, um, smell, merely a stage that will resolve without intervention?
Or should parents and teachers take a more active role in teaching and reinforcing hygiene habits?
Turns out, the best approach is actually a combination of those two strategies.
In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss:
- WHY some boys seems oblivious to their own stench
- The essential role of 5th grade teachers in the hygiene battle
- How colored liquid soap can help boys shower effectively
- “Man soap” vs. “girly soap”
- Axe bombs (Don’t know what that is? Listen in at 12:41!)
- When — and how — to have the hygiene talk
- When boys should start using deodorant – & how to make sure your boys use it regularly (Listen carefully for Jen’s pro tips!)
- The role of role-modeling in personal hygiene
- How to get the stench out of your boys’ gym clothes and sports uniforms
- Tooth brushing (Spoiler: Instill good tooth brushing habits when you boys are young!)
- Hair care
- How to combine male bonding and hygiene rituals (not as weird as it sounds!)
- BEING NEUTRAL!
Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 120:
Boying Up: How to be Brave, Bold and Brilliant. by Mayim Bialik — A great book to leave laying around the house. Includes detailed hygiene instructions for boys.
Parenting Teen Boys Is... — BuildingBoys post by Jen. Includes this pic:
Why Do Teenagers Smell Bad? Study Suggests They May Be Unable to Detect Own Scent — report of Danish research