Task: Schedule Hygiene Routines (this does not include the daily morning wash ups/grooming as I put these under my morning routines)
On my weekly household schedule, I list bath days for the kids. I also make a day for clipping nails, hair washing (if not done in the shower) cleaning ears and things that I tend to forget and put that on the list. I like to set some of these items for Thursday, the day before Al Jumuah so the boys can have that done before Jumuah prayer.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said,
"Five practices are characteristics of the Fitra: circumcision,
shaving the pubic region, clipping the nails and cutting the
moustaches short." (Bukhari)
Bath days are also good days to go over hygienic practices/review and teach. Be sure to schedule these in as well so you won't forget, insha Allah.
TJ has a Life Skills/Hygiene page which has ideas for teaching about hair care, skin care, oral hygiene, and bathroom etiquette.
While setting up this section of your schedule, you might also set up a hair care regimen for yourself and the kids.
You can visit TJ's Raising Muslim Daughters site (Hair Care Page) for links to hair care articles and hair related fatwa.
Hair Care Calendar Printable
Fill in the calendar with your own hair care schedule.
Also includes form to write down information about your hair care products.
Also, for Muslimahs only, you might consider joining: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Nisaahaircare/ for advice and support in keeping up on hair care.
Sample steps for completing this task:
1. List all the hygiene related practices that you can think of pertaining to your family:
e.g. baths, wash hair, condition hair, clipping nails, shaving
2. Mark down on your master weekly household form, the days that these items should be done.
3. Develop procedures for each item. Include your children in this process if you are able to. Or, you might even assign older children the task of writing procedures to work on their writing/thinking skills. I have a task instruction sheet that can be used for recording these procedures.
eg. outline the
steps children should follow for taking a bath, to wash the hair, to shave; develop your hair care regimen (how often hair is to be washed, and conditioned, if you have a detailed hair regimen, fill out the hair care calendar); outline the steps of shaving.
Post the procedures around the house in appropriate places and keep a copy in your binder.
Resources:
How to trim your baby's nails (Baby Center)
How to Clip Baby's Nails
Cutting and Filing Nails
Get a smooth underarm shave
Female Underarm Care
Hair Removal - Kidshealth.org
"The Best Way to Shave"
4. Go over the procedures once they are written up and then review at appropriate times (such as when taking a bath, washing the hair, etc).
