Grade by Grade
D. Healthy Living · Healthy Living

Taking Care of My Changing Body: Hygiene and Personal Care

D2.4 A1.5 A1.3About 40 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can explain why hygiene becomes even more important at puberty.
  • I can describe a personal care routine, including bathing or showering, clean clothes and hygiene products like deodorant.
  • I can keep up important habits like handwashing, caring for my teeth and, for people who use them, caring for prosthetic devices and residual limbs.

Words to know

hygiene
Things you do to keep your body clean and healthy.
personal care
Taking care of your own body's needs, like washing, sleeping and keeping teeth healthy.
deodorant
A product put under the arms to cover or reduce the smell of body odour.
antiperspirant
A product put under the arms to reduce how much you sweat. Many products are both deodorant and antiperspirant.
bacteria
Tiny living things too small to see. Some cause odour or sickness.
prosthetic device
An artificial body part, like an artificial leg or arm, that some people use.
residual limb
The part of an arm or leg that remains after an amputation. It fits into a prosthetic.
routine
Things you do regularly, in the same order, like every morning.

Fresh and clean!

Remember from last lesson: at puberty, sweat glands get busier and skin gets oilier. That's normal. It just means your body needs a little more care than before. Today you'll learn how to keep your changing body clean, healthy and comfortable, and build a routine that works for you.

Why hygiene matters more at puberty

  • Sweat doesn't smell on its own. Body odour happens when sweat mixes with bacteria on the skin. Washing removes the bacteria and sweat.
  • Oily skin and hair can lead to pimples and hair that looks greasy.
  • Clothes soak up sweat and oil, so they start to smell if they aren't washed.
  • Good hygiene helps you feel comfortable and confident, and helps keep germs from spreading.
sweat+bacteriaon skin=bodyodourWashing with soap removes the sweat and the bacteria.Sweat alonedoesn't smell!
Body odour happens when sweat mixes with bacteria on the skin. Washing removes both.
HabitHow and when
Bathe or shower 🚿Regularly, and often every day once puberty starts. Always after sports or sweaty play. Use soap, especially under the arms, on the feet and in the groin area.
Wash your hair 🧴When it feels oily. Some people need to wash it more often during puberty. Hair care differs for different hair types; ask a grown-up what works for your hair.
Wash your face 🧼Morning and night with water and a mild soap or face wash. Don't pick or squeeze pimples; that can spread bacteria and leave marks.
Use deodorant or antiperspirantUnder clean, dry arms, usually in the morning. Ask your grown-up which product is right for you.
Change clothes 👕Wear clean underwear and socks every day. Change shirts often, and always change after gym.
Brush and floss 🪥Brush twice a day for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste. Floss once a day.
Wash your hands 🙌With soap for 20 seconds: before eating, after the washroom, after blowing your nose, after gym or outdoor play.
A personal care routine. Habits you already know, like handwashing and brushing, are still important!

Caring for prosthetic devices and residual limbs

Some people use a prosthetic device, such as an artificial leg or arm. Hygiene for them also includes:

  • Washing the residual limb every day with mild soap and water and drying it well.
  • Checking the skin for redness, rubbing or sores, and telling a grown-up or their health care team if something looks wrong.
  • Cleaning the liner and socket of the prosthetic the way their health care team shows them.

During puberty, sweating and growing can change how a prosthetic fits, so it's important to keep up with checkups. Everyone's body has its own care needs.

Hygiene products

Common products include soap, shampoo, face wash, deodorant or antiperspirant, and toothpaste.

  • Don't share toothbrushes, deodorant sticks, hairbrushes or towels. They can spread germs.
  • Many schools and classrooms are scent-free. Choose unscented or lightly scented products, and don't use body sprays in shared spaces; strong scents can make some people sick, especially people with asthma or allergies.
  • More isn't better: a little deodorant works. Washing is what really gets rid of odour.
Worked example

Let's build a routine

Riya has swimming on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and has noticed her body smells stronger after gym class. Help her plan a routine.

  1. Morning: wash face, brush teeth (2 minutes), put on clean underwear, socks and clothes, use deodorant.
  2. Gym days: pack a gym bag with a clean shirt and socks to change into after gym.
  3. After swimming: shower with soap and wash hair to rinse out pool water.
  4. Night: wash face, brush and floss.
  5. Shower: on the days she doesn't swim too, or at least whenever she's sweaty.

Riya's routine covers washing, clean clothes, deodorant, teeth and a plan for sweaty days.

Morningwash facebrush teethclean clothesdeodorantAfter sportsshower or bathchange intoclean clothesNightwash facebrush and floss
A simple routine: morning, after sports, and at night.
Worked example

Let's solve a hygiene mystery

Owen showers every day but his gym shoes and feet smell bad. What could be going on?

  1. Clue 1: feet have lots of sweat glands.
  2. Clue 2: sweat soaks into socks and shoes, where bacteria grow.
  3. Solutions: wash and dry feet well, especially between the toes; wear clean socks every day; let shoes air out; switch between two pairs if possible.

The bacteria live in his socks and shoes. Clean socks, dry feet and airing out shoes help.

Hands-on activity

Make a personal care kit and checklist

You need: a small bag or box, paper, a pencil, and a grown-up.

  1. With your grown-up, gather a gym or sleepover kit: a travel deodorant (unscented is best for school), a small towel, a spare pair of socks and a clean shirt, and a small hand sanitizer.
  2. Make a daily checklist for the bathroom mirror with two columns, Morning and Night. Include: wash face, brush teeth, floss, deodorant, clean clothes, shower or bath.
  3. Check off each step for one week.
  4. At the end of the week, ask yourself: What was easy? What did I forget? How could I remember next time (an alarm, a sticky note)?

Grown-up note: help choose products that are suitable for your child's skin and hair, and check labels for allergies.

Just for fun

What did the soap say at the end of bath time?

Well, that went right down the drain!

Your turn

1

Why does body odour increase during puberty?

2

Name four parts of a personal care routine.

3

What is the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant?

4

How long should you brush your teeth, and how often?

5

Why shouldn't you squeeze pimples?

6

Name two ways someone takes care of a residual limb.

More practice: warm-up

1

How long should you wash your hands with soap?

2

True or false: you should wear clean socks every day.

3

Should you share your deodorant or toothbrush?

4

When should you shower, besides your regular routine?

5

How many times a day should you wash your face?

More practice: on your own

1

Ben uses lots of body spray instead of showering. Why doesn't this work, and why can it be a problem at school?

2

Why is changing your shirt after gym a good habit?

3

Your hair feels greasy by the end of the day. What could you do?

4

Why might a prosthetic need to be checked more often during puberty?

5

Name three times you should wash your hands.

Challenge

1

Create a hygiene plan for a 3-day camping trip without showers.

2

A friend has started smelling of body odour and other kids are whispering. How could you help in a kind, private way?

3

Explain how good hygiene helps your mental health as well as your physical health.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Body odour happens when sweat mixes with...

2.

Which habit is most important for getting rid of body odour?

3.

How often should you change your underwear and socks?

4.

Antiperspirant...

5.

What should you do with a pimple?

6.

Caring for a residual limb includes...

For parents and teachers

Big idea: This lesson covers the Grade 4 expectation to demonstrate an understanding of personal care needs and the application of personal hygienic practices associated with the onset of puberty (e.g., increased importance of regular bathing/showering and regular clothing changes; use of hygiene products; continuing importance of regular hygiene practices, including hand washing, oral health care, and care of prosthetic devices and residual limbs) (D2.4).

About this content: this lesson is part of Ontario's human development and sexual health expectations. It focuses on everyday hygiene. Menstruation and related products are taught in Grade 5; you may choose to talk about them sooner if your child is ready or asks.

How to help at home:

  • Let your child choose their own unscented deodorant or face wash; ownership helps routines stick.
  • Expect reminders for a while; habits take time. Praise effort.
  • Offer information privately and kindly. Children can be very sensitive about body odour.
  • Hair care varies a lot by hair type and culture; share what works in your family.
  • If your child uses a prosthetic, follow their health care team's advice for skin and device care, and plan fit checks during growth spurts.

Common difficulties: using spray instead of washing; forgetting socks and gym clothes; picking at pimples.

This lesson also builds self-awareness and a sense of identity (A1.5) and positive motivation and perseverance (A1.3) as your child keeps up a new routine.