Do you ever wonder what your child’s teacher knows about you (because let’s face it, kids have zero filters and tell their peers or teachers anything and everything).
However, there are also things teachers probably would really like parents to know, but that they struggle to tell them. Recently, a former US-based primary school teachers took to social media to share a post that soon went viral and struck a nerve with parents everywhere.
Maggie Perkins shared a now-viral TikTok video to share with parents the hygiene issues educators, like herself, notice but can’t always address directly with families.
@itsmaggieperkins Things I couldn’t say while I was a teacher: 1. Cut your kids nails 2. Get them deodorant before they start really stinking 3. Start wearing a bra before it’s really noticeable 4. Wash those hoodies. #teachersoftiktok #formerteacher #teacherlife #teachertok #middleschoolteacher ♬ original sound – Maggie Perkins 🍉
The list, covering things like long, dirty fingernails to unwashed clothes and body odour – caused a bit of a stir, but at the same time, many parents thanked her for alerting them to this, and some even admitted they felt like they have been those parents, but will now try to stay on top of things, for their kids’ sake.
In her video, the teacher says:
‘Please cut your kid’s nails. If your kid’s nails are long and dirty, other kids are noticing and also it is gross,’ Perkins states plainly in her video, before moving on to things like kids needing deodorant, first bras, and those beloved-but-never-washed hoodies.
Parenting hygiene fails
In an attempt to teach parents a little bit about what she has seen, and what parents need to make sure they stay on top of when it comes to kids and hygiene, Perkins’ list touched upon a lot of things.
For instance, she said kids’ nails should be cut and clean, and the time to start encouraging your child to use deodorant is ‘before it becomes necessary’ – to avoid any teasing about bad smell and body odour.
The former teacher also reminded parents that when your child’s body start changing thanks to early puberty, it might be worth shopping for things like a sports bra or sports top sooner rather than later.
Clothes should also be clean when coming into school, and Perkins said those favourite hoodies kids love to wear every day soon becomes ‘dirty snot rags’ when not cleaned regularly.
Teacher says personal hygiene matters in more ways than one
The teacher goes on to talk about how important it is that parents help our kids with personal hygiene, as becoming known as the smelly child or the dirty child, or in any way just being different or someone other kids perceive as different, can be a ‘social landmine’ for kids ‘already navigating the treacherous waters of pre-adolescence.’
Perkins also says the reason so many parents miss these signs is that in some ways, we still see our children as little, and often younger than they really are, meaning we might be blind to things like bodies changing and puberty emerging.
‘The stubborn resistance to acknowledging puberty’s approach means we might miss those earlier-than-expected moments when deodorant or a first bra becomes necessary,’ the former teacher explains to parents, and
