There are those conversations that every parent eventually has to have with their kids that can sometimes feel cringe-worthy. The birds and the bees, personal hygiene… we know they are 100% necessary but that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to squirm through the whole thing. And let’s be realistic, if we are squirming, you better believe the kids’ are finding it just as uncomfortable, if not more.
Teenagers come with their own special set of issues that need to be tackled.
While it may not seem to rank high on the list of awkward convos you’ll have with your kids as they grow, it isn’t easy to bring up the few scraggly hairs decorating your son’s upper lip. Teenage boys inevitably become a little stinky, a little unkempt, a little… well, a little like a teenage boy! So when should parents broach the topic of personal grooming with their sons?
A recent survey conducted by Philips and UrbanMoms found that 40% of parents think that speaking to their sons in their tween years (11-13) is the best time to bring up the topic of personal grooming and hygiene. The idea is to speak with them early, before they actually have any stray hairs on their faces.
Only 28% of parents would speak to their sons in the 8-10 age group and only 4% of parents would wait until their son was over 17 years of age. Obviously, “the earlier, the better” is considered a much better strategy than waiting until it is too late to instill good habits.
According to the survey, parents should tackle the subject before their son’s 14th birthday (but not on their birthday).
Sixty-six per cent of parents would pick any day other than their son’s birthday to bring up personal hygiene. It seems most parents think birthdays should be enjoyed and conversations of this nature are best saved for when the time feels right.
The way to broach the subject seemed to have parents quite divided: 33% would take a blunt approach, while 34% would try to be more subtle. The blunt parents chose to address the issue in a straightforward manner that would still get through to their sons: “Shave because unruly facial hair is a guaranteed way to stay single”.
On the other side, a razor left in the bathroom with a note about a sale seemed to be the popular route for parents with a more delicate touch.
While having the grooming talk with your son on their birthday seems to be a big no-no, what about gifting them with a grooming product on their birthday? Most parents think a personal grooming gift, like the Philips Click & Style, is a much more acceptable birthday hint then a full conversation on the topic. In fact, 58% of parents saw it as a great gift idea. Not only is it the perfect solution when you are stuck on what to get your picky teen, it’s also a practical option to break up all those video games!
When and how did you speak to your son about personal grooming and hygiene? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
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