All children learn about their bodies by self-exploration and by the information that we give them and model for them.  Children who are deaf or hard of hearing learn a lot by using their eyes; therefore, our modeling of bathing and self-care is critical to the development of good hygiene habits.  Teaching the labels for body parts is an important early step of body awareness and can be done during daily activities such as bathing and diapering. A fun way to teach about body parts is suggested in the book, Kid-Friendly Parenting with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children (by Daria Medwid and Denise Chapman Weston, 1995, Washington, D.C.:  Gallaudet University Press):

Give your child a special washcloth to use in the tub.  While your child is in the bathtub, hide behind the shower curtain or under a bath towel.  Say or fingerspell (with your hand held out from behind the cover) the name of a body part to be washed.  Peek out from behind the curtain and see if your child is washing the correct body part!

This book is available through the LINK Lending Library.

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