Parents can model good behaviours and actively discuss important values with their children to guide them and help them develop good habits. PHOTO: PUBLIC HYGIENE COUNCIL

Parents are primary influencers and role models for their children. Whether consciously or not, they pass on personal values. These values translate into habits at home, which eventually manifest in public attitudes and behaviours. It is important that parents inculcate the right values in their children, forming the foundation on which to build respect for others in the community and care for the environment.

Parents can help their children be considerate towards family members and respect people’s belongings by getting them to tidy up and clean up. The act of tidying and cleaning not only teaches personal responsibility, but also develops appreciation and ownership of keeping their homes and public spaces clean.

It is best to teach the kids by example. Parents can model good behaviours and actively discuss important values with their children to guide them and help them develop good habits.

The Public Hygiene Council has produced a light-hearted video entitled “Litter Family Secrets”, where three groups of siblings watch videos of themselves and their parents in different social experiments. In the videos, parents and children displayed both good and bad hygiene and cleanliness behaviours. The children and parents then had candid conversations about what they saw and how they all needed to be more intentional about keeping their homes and public spaces clean.

This school holidays, families are largely confined to their homes due to the Circuit Breaker. It is an opportune time for parents to demonstrate and inculcate good hygiene and cleanliness habits at home. These good habits can become entrenched and be maintained in public as well, resulting in a cleaner, better and safer environment for all.