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Home › Articles › Appearance › Smelly Boys

Smelly Boys

Teaching Young Boys Good Hygiene Habits

By Laura Paul

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Heidi Katz of Los Angeles, Calif., never wanted to become the "because I said so" kind of parent. In the past few years, when her son, Max, 11, ignored her pleas for him to use good grooming skills, Katz resisted the temptation to be demanding.

"My child has always kept himself pretty clean, although I've met with certainly a lot of resistance lately," Katz says. "Take a shower. I don't want to. Cut your fingernails. I don't want to. Brush your teeth. I don't want to."

Katz found material for her son to read about good grooming habits. She took him to the store to find guy-friendly as opposed to unisex grooming products. Now he takes more frequent showers, using body wash and shampoo.

Controlling body odor is not easy, and more boys are starting to develop and become involved in sports at a younger age. Max stays active with his skateboarding, rollerblading and soccer games. "He is getting to the point now where he sweats," Katz says. "He did not used to sweat. He is starting to develop those glands and that capability."

Odor Patrol

While most parents should start noticing when their guys produce more oil and odor, it may be the teacher or school principal who first brings it to a boy's attention.

Bobbi Jasper, Ph.D., of Rockville, Md., an elementary school principal for Montgomery County Public Schools, says school administrators try to be discreet when having conversations about personal grooming. Jasper understands the issue more than most because she has two sons, Michael, 16, and Phillip, 13.

"They need to start being taught those skills at a younger age so when they get to be the age where they perspire and develop body odor as a result of the bacteria, it's second nature for them to start taking care of themselves," Jasper says. "Sometimes you have to have private conversations and explain to the young men that they really need to start thinking about the effect their decision is having on people around them. For instance, they come in from physical education or from recess. Even a fourth-grader or third-grader will have the need to use deodorant or an antibacterial soap. Teachers have to get close to these kids. Other kids have to get close to these kids. Sometimes it's a skill that needs to be taught or explained. It's not going to come naturally because very often we don't smell quite as offensive to ourselves as we do to others."


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