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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

7 year olds

16 replies

dextersgirl · 07/04/2006 21:37

Am looking for some advice on a 7 year old boy (mine!)... I dont know if I'm being too harsh on him.

please be honest, is it reasonable to expect a 7 year old boy to:

be able to comb his hair properly?

Realise when he smells!?

Care when he smells!!?

realise or care when he has food all over his face?

care that his clothes are dirty and have the sense to put them in the wash or at least not put them on!

Just stuff like that...do 7 year olds in general care about personal hygiene/appearance or am I being harsh expecting him to at his age?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Sherbert37 · 07/04/2006 21:43

I think the short answer is....no! DS1 is 13 and has been interested in being clean and looking good for a couple of years now (makes me mad the way he puts everything in the wash after one wear - you know, perfectly clean jeans). Started after a school trip and seeing others putting in gel etc during the week away. DS2 is 8 and absolutely filthy from morning to night. I don't like buying him anything new as it is quickly bitten, torn, stained. Hope he will see the light in a couple of years...

Miaou · 07/04/2006 21:43

Umm - ok this is my 8 year old dd (have c&p'd your comments so gender is wrong)

be able to comb his hair properly? yes

Realise when he smells!? no

Care when he smells!!? not really - she complains like mad when I make her shower

realise or care when he has food all over his face? no

care that his clothes are dirty and have the sense to put them in the wash or at least not put them on! no

Some kids have far more important things on their minds - I don't necessarily expect dd1 to notice these things (she's quite fey and often has her head in the clouds) - however, I do expect her to do something about it and with good grace if she is asked.

crazydazy · 07/04/2006 21:45

My DS always looks bedraggled, snotty and generally untidy but he's male so I kind of expect it.

Sometimes they never grow out of it I have heard.

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mumeeee · 07/04/2006 21:48

No that is normal for a 7 year old. They still need guidence at this age.

MrsSpoon · 07/04/2006 21:49

My DS1 is seven and he never combs his hair, doesn't realise he smells, in fact thinks one shower a week is excessive, doesn't care when he smells, has only just started washing his face but this has coincided with a playing with water facination so I think it is just an excuse to plitter about, would not notice if his clothes were dirty in fact I am fed up asking him to take clothes off that have last night's dinner all over them and put something clean on.

Original poster

dextersgirl · 07/04/2006 21:49

ok, I shall apologise to my son (who at the moment is lovely and clean due to a forced bath!) in the morning bless him!

Thanks for the replies x

OP posts:

JanH · 07/04/2006 21:50

Do 7-yr-olds smell????

Miaou · 07/04/2006 21:51

Depends what they've been up to Jan

Original poster

dextersgirl · 07/04/2006 21:52

I only noticed him stinking today actually... then again he has escaped a bath for the past few nights so thats maybe why!

OP posts:

MrsSpoon · 07/04/2006 22:26

My 7 year old has a tendancy to smell because he isn't always dry at night, although he does wear a pull-up, if he doesn't go in the shower (he often doesn't like to admit that the Pull-up was wet in the morning) he can be a bit niffy.

spidermama · 07/04/2006 22:28

I think he should be able to comb his own hair, though he probably wouldn't remember to without being reminded.

'No' to the others I'm afraid. (I have a 7 year old dd.)

areyouforreal · 08/04/2006 16:18

comb his hair-if he feels like it all the others no,my ds wiffs sometimes&i have to drag him in the bath

iota · 08/04/2006 16:28

I am the voice of dissent here: my almost 7 yr old:

doesn't brush his hair unless I tell him, but has very short hair, so doesn't really need to

Baths every 2 days - with his 4 yr old bro - I do run the bath for them

wipes his face after eating

changes all his clothes every day and puts them in teh laundary basket ( 4 yr old does this as well)

WharfRat · 08/04/2006 16:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MadameDeMars · 08/04/2006 16:44

DS1 is 13 and has only just become aware... after years of "gentle" telling lol

kid · 08/04/2006 17:32

DD is 7 and as she thinks that as long as she combs the front of her hair then it is fine. She doesn't put her clothes in the washing unless I tell her to, she is much happier to leave them on the floor!

She doesn't mind having baths but wouldn't ask for a bath herself.

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