It’s a well-known fact that kids just aren’t all that interested in brushing. Ever try to get your child to brush his or her teeth? They start out all excited, but they get bored in about 2 seconds. Here’s how to get them to brush for 2 minutes.
Sing-A-Long
There are tons of tooth brush songs on YouTube that you can use to get your kids motivated to brush. Choose one that lasts at least 2 minutes. Singing, and humming makes the whole thing more fun and reinforces the routine. If you have a terrible singing voice, then you can use something like the Tooth Toons toothbrushes that play a song for you.
Roar
Can you roar like a lion? Or, maybe like some other animal? Many moms have their child make animal sounds to open their mouths wide and then mom reaches in all the way to the back so she can clean the hard-to-reach teeth. You can even use specific sounds like “teee” for the front teeth and “ahhhhh” for the back teeth.
Once your kids get the hang of it, they’ll love it.
Play A Game
Parents “in the know” use gaming to help get their child to brush for the required 2 minutes per brushing event. Let your child brush their doll’s teeth, or their favorite stuffed animal’s teeth. You can also let them brush all over their arm, their ear, and then ask them questions like “is this where you use your brush?”
Children love to play. They’re also pretty smart. They know where the toothbrush goes (just make sure that you give them a clean brush before they put it in their mouth). Not only will you be teaching them the right way to brush, they’ll see it as a fun activity instead of just another chore that they have to “survive.”
Open Up
Let your child pick out their own toothbrush. This gets them invested in the brushing process, and it makes it more fun for them.
Kids love to feel grown up, but they also just like having a say in the matter. They want to be part of the decision-making process. This helps them do both.
Get Rid Of Sugar Bugs
Some parents use stories to help their kids understand the importance of brushing. They may use stories like “get the sugar bugs out!” to reinforce the idea that kids need to “brush out the sugar bugs.” This game is amusing for some children. In fact, it can be so fun that kids will brush their teeth for as long as it takes to “get the bugs out.” Since having bugs in your mouth is a little gross to begin with, it’s not too hard to convince them to brush.
Play Copycat With Your Kids
Kids love to do whatever mom does. And, they love to feel grown-up. So, why not lead by example. Setting a good example for your kids is crucial. And, if you do it from a young age, they’ll get the hint that, since mom and dad take care of their health, that they should too.
Try brushing at the same time and having your kid copy what you’re doing, where you’re brushing, etc. But don’t share a toothbrush with your child.
If your kids are afraid of the dentist, you can read them The Complete Guide to Conquering Your Fear of the Dentist, and help them understand that brushing helps reduce the amount of time they need to spend in the dentist’s chair.
The Tooth Fairy
Some parents use the Tooth Fairy as a way to bargain with their child and make it easier on themselves. But, while this isn’t always the best strategy, it can work in the short-term. Brushing can be a boring activity for many children, and if they don’t want to floss, it can cause health problems later on.
Telling them that the Tooth Fairy is only looking for healthy baby teeth when they fall out (don’t forget to tell them their teeth are going to fall out!), you might motivate your children to spend some time taking care of them.
Even if your child doesn’t fully understand how long 2 minutes is, they can be guided by you. And, since you’re the parent, it’s important for you to basically tell your child how long they need to brush.
And, when it comes time to visit the dentist, don’t hesitate to take them in. They may not like it at first, but once they see that nothing bad happens at the office, they may grow to love it.
Jessica Giles works as a fitness instructor. She loves helping others live better, so she posts her insights on the internet. Her articles appear on a number of health and wellness sites.
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