As mothers, we carry a huge responsibility to teach crucial life skills and healthy habits to our children. From their ABC’s and 123’s to their first driving lesson – and all the little *seemingly insignificant* things in between – there is so much to teach the next generation. And these lessons include healthy skincare practices. Here are few tips for teaching kids to care for their skin.

Begin Early On

As the mother of a precocious daughter, the usual watching and listening and emulating mama’s face washing and makeup routine began a lot sooner than expected. And even though she’s only ten years-old, teaching good skin care practices can *and should* begin at a much younger age.

Creating awareness around healthy hygiene and skincare can certainly begin at an early age. And teaching your child how to care for their skin will empower them to practice self-care early on, which can help to increase overall confidence down the road.

Keep Skincare Simple

Beyond the basic bathing and hair washing, educating your child on how to care for their largest organ does not need to be complicated. Skin health goes way beyond vanity and is as essential as proper nutrition and hygiene basics.

Though kids may be swayed by the latest and greatest product seen on TikTok or Youtube – for most young people *and adults*, the simpler the better.

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All that is needed are the basics: cleanse, moisturize, and sun protection.

• Wash with luke warm water.
• Cleanse morning and evening with a gentle cleanser.
• Follow up with a calming moisturizer.
• Include sunscreen each and every morning.

Look Good. Feel Good.

Whether anyone admits it or not, when we look good on the outside, we feel good on the inside. This applies, not only to adults, but to children as well. In this day and age of comparison and imitation – thank you social media – unrealistic beauty standards and body image expectations can cause self-confidence insecurities.

Here are Some Healthy Skincare Habit-Creating Tips

• Be conscious of what products and ingredients you allow your child to use on their sensitive skin. The simpler, the better!
• In order to make skincare a daily habit, make the process as effortless as possible. Post reminders or create a skincare schedule to emphasize the process. And keep products readily available so they’ll be more apt to use them regularly.
• Stress the importance of drinking water throughout the day. Healthy skin begins on the inside!
• Discuss the fact that they may see changes in the skin. Puberty – and certain foods – can bring on acne and inflammation. Treat these conditions accordingly as they arise.

Teaching Kids to Care for Their Skin – For Life

In the end, skincare is just one of the many lessons our kids will learn in their lifetime. But teaching them early on will help to instill a life-long habit that will stick with them for the rest of their lives.