Case Study How I Teach My 3 year old Daughter To Brush Her Teeth
Just like any other parent, there comes a time when you need to teach your child to brush their teeth. You told yourself to finally do something about this problem, so you go around trying to gather all the information you could find online about helping your kid brush their teeth. (And you found this blog post).
If you've found yourself in this situation, you're not alone. I've been in your situation multiple times, struggling to teach my 3-years old daughter to brush her teeth independently. I remember getting her to brush her own teeth every night was like having to go to war and fight the endless battle of yelling and screaming.
However, things started to change when I stumbled upon the valuable insights, experiences, and practical tips shared by other successful parents on the internet. From playful techniques to engaging stories, I will show you every creative way I learn to transform toothbrushing into an enjoyable daily routine for my kid.
In this video, I'll also share with you my story and my experience of how I managed to teach my 3-year-old daughter to brush her teeth in just 7 days. Hopefully, my story will inspire you and give you a guide on where to start getting your child involved with their brushing routine.
First Day: Make Brushing Teeth Fun And Enjoyable
On my mission to teach my 3-year-old daughter to brush her teeth, I used to spend about 30 minutes every day reading articles online about the topic of helping kids brush their teeth.
I came across a successful story online saying that you have to let your kid choose their toothbrush and toothpaste. It claims that this approach will increase the likelihood of your kid brushing their teeth regularly. Without a second thought, I started implementing it in a few hours.
I got my 3-year-old daughter to go shopping together with me that day. I let her choose her favorite toothbrush (she want a toothbrush with Peppa Pig on it). I also got her toothpaste with a picture of Peppa Pig on it.
Is it worth the trip to the store and spend the extra dollar on the new toothbrush and toothpaste? It does. The trick worked like magic, before bedtime that night, I showed her the toothbrush we had bought at the store, and guess what? She ran into the bathroom and started brushing her teeth. (It was the first time in my life that I saw my daughter being excited about brushing her own teeth. I'm so proud of myself that day.)
Summary: On the first day, I learn that by letting my daughter choose her favorite tools to brush her teeth, I can make brushing her teeth fun and enjoyable.
Second Day: Use Youtube For Help
Since I work from home, we usually wake up around 9 AM. I was a bit disappointed that morning because my daughter not being as excited as she does the night before about brushing her teeth. She starts to fall into her bad habit again, and I have to spend about 5 minutes nagging her until she goes brush her teeth.
So after that morning, I did more research and started looking for another solution. One successful story caught my attention that suggests using youtube videos to trick kid into brushing their teeth. After spending about 20 minutes looking at the information and finding youtube videos. I found 2 videos that I think would work on my daughter.
That night, before we went to bed, I showed my daughter the 2 videos I selected. It kinda works. She watched all 2 videos and slowly dragged herself into the bathroom, and started brushing her teeth that night. The youtube video talked about why brushing her teeth is important and how it helps keep her teeth healthy and strong.
Note: Including Youtube videos into your children's oral care routine can be a great idea. There are so many amazing brushing videos out there that not only motivate them to brush their teeth, but also help them develop healthy dental knowledge.
Summary: Today, I learned to use youtube to give my daughter extra motivation. I realized that by allowing my daughter to watch educational videos that discuss about the importance of brushing her teeth, it can teach and give her an additional source of motivation.
Third Day: Reward Them Something After Finish
Morning is still the same for us, our daughter can't seem to brush her teeth without my nagging. I know I have to find something new, something that will stick for a long time.
Just like the 2 days before, I start doing more research and found out that if you reward your kid something for their good behavior, they will start doing it more.
Although this concept sounds very common sense, I just never thought of it. I quickly realized that my daughter really loves her iPad, she would spend hours and hours on it, if of course, I allowed her. I never allow her to play on her iPad for more than 3 hours a day, but I know I have to try this method out.
So that night, I took the iPad away from her and told her if she goes brush her teeth, I would let her play on her iPad for 30 more minutes. Guess what, she starts rushing toward the bathroom and starts brushing her teeth.
Note from what I read: The psychology behind rewarding your kids is very influential. When my daughter receives a reward for completing a task, such as brushing her teeth, her brain will associate the action with something positive. This creates a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, making her more likely to repeat the behavior in the future.
Summary: On the third day, I learned that by rewarding my daughter with something every time she finishes brushing her teeth, I could almost guarantee that she will brush her teeth every time. This helped motivate my daughter to keep going and made the routine more enjoyable.
The Rest Of The Week: Brush Together With Your Kid
From that point on, I feel like I finally found the magic switch button of my daughter. I don't have to nag her to brush her teeth anymore, which saves me a lot of time. All I have to do after we wake up and before her bedtime is to tell her that if she brushes her teeth, she can play on her iPad for 15 minutes.
But of course, being her parent, I don't want her to fall into the same bad habit again. So I continue my research to find something that would help my daughter to stick with this healthy habit.
I came across another article recommending parents to brush their teeth together with their kids. By doing this, children would be more motivated and enjoy the process of brushing their teeth even more.
I decided to try it out that very night. We went to brush our teeth together and what surprise me the most is that my daughter seemed even more eager to brush than usual. From that day on, I make a promise to myself that no matter how busy I am at work, I would always brush my teeth together with her (If she wanted me to).
Note: Your child will be more likely to brush their teeth if they see you doing it. Also, by brushing your teeth together with your child every day, it will help them see the importance of brushing their teeth, and why they should do it every day.
Summary: By days 5 and 6, my daughter was ready to take on brushing her teeth on her own. I also found out that it is a good idea for me to go grab my toothbrush and join in with my kid. If my daughter regularly sees me brushing my teeth, she'll be more likely to brush her teeth as well.
Day Seven And Beyond: Be Patient With Your Kid
Everything seems to go well with my research. My daughter has started to maintain her daily routine, and her teeth start to look better. I'm thrilled to see that my efforts are paying off, as I notice my 3-year-old daughter slowly forming a very healthy habit. She no longer has to constantly think and worry about brushing her teeth, and I no longer have to nag her.
Teaching my 3-year-old daughter how to brush her teeth in about seven days was a challenging but rewarding experience. One important lesson I learned throughout this process is you really have to be patient with your kid.
As a parent, it's important to remember that every child is different, and what works for one may not work for another. It takes some time for your child to learn how to brush their teeth properly, and it's crucial not to get frustrated if they don't get it right away. Eventually, they will learn to brush it the right way.
I hope that sharing my experience can provide some inspiration and guidance for other parents who may be struggling with this task. Remember, consistency and patience are key, and with a little bit of effort, you can help your child develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime.
Summary: Yes, not just teach my daughter how to brush her teeth in 7 days, I also help my daughter establish a routine of brushing her teeth twice a day. I think it is important for parents to begin teaching their kids to start brushing their teeth at a very young age. I am glad I helped my daughter form a healthy habit in just 7 days, and I hope the reader of this blog would do the same thing to their kids.
Quick Takeaway
Tip From Day 1 - Make It Fun And Enjoyable: Let your kid choose their favorite toothbrush and toothpaste to make brushing teeth more fun and enjoyable.
Tip From Day 2 - Use Youtube For Help: Let your kid watch educational youtube videos talked about why brushing their teeth is important and how it helps keep their teeth healthy and strong can motivate them even more.
Tip From Day 3 - Reward Them Something After Finish: I realized that by offering your kid a reward after she finishes brushing her teeth, you can motivate your kid and give them another reason to brush her teeth.
Tip From The Rest Of The Week - Brush Together With Your Kid: I also found out that it is a good idea for you to go grab your toothbrush and join in with your kids. If your kids regularly see you brushing your teeth, they'll be more likely to brush their teeth as well.
Tip From Day Seven And Beyond - Be Patient With Your Kid: Every child is different, some kids take longer to learn than others. Don't get frustrated if your kid doesn't learn it right away.
