Spring is here…the time of year when flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and kids start to smell. You may find that your child’s teacher is stockpiling air freshener or skips on her way out to bus duty because even those fumes are better than the smell in her classroom. Perhaps you catch a whiff of it too as your child reaches across the table at dinner, and you pause for a moment and think “No…she’s not old enough yet.” I assure you, she is. Even prepubescent kids are subject to body odor.

Most elementary-aged kids don’t need, or want for that matter, parental supervision of their bathing time. Now is the time to make sure your child understands the difference between a rinse and a lather. Sweat and stink build up in the nooks and crannies, where kids don’t always think to wash. A gentle reminder of where to scrub never hurts.

No matter how rushed you are or how much they whine, don’t skip showers or baths. A child can hop in a shower, lather up, and get out in under five minutes. You might need to be standing outside the door with the kitchen timer, but it can be done. You’ll be glad you did when your child lifts his arms to give you that big bear hug before bedtime. Besides, nothing kills a kid’s cool quotient faster than being the stinky kid.

Consider deodorant or antiperspirant for older children. It’s best to find a natural or organic brand that is aluminum-free (a neurotoxin that has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease). Look for something that’s lightly scented or unscented. There are few things more unsettling than an eight-year-old who smells faintly of Old Spice. Brands without perfumes are less likely to contain potential carcinogens or aluminum.

Socks are a necessity for any child who is going to be running free on a playground in May and June. Most schools do not allow sandals or flip flops, so thankfully, you can enforce this without committing any crimes against fashion. While your daughter may insist that she doesn’t need socks with those cute new slip-ons, the kid sitting next to her when those slip-ons slip off after recess will probably disagree.

Just as you might stop and smell those newly blooming roses as you walk into your house in the afternoon, take a few moments to do the same for your child. Anyone who shares a confined space with him will thank you.

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