A L W A Y S C L E A NTExT BY MErCè SE ix AND MEriTxELL NoguErA i LLuSTrATioNS BY roC io BoNiLL A

The G

ang Series

ALWA

YS CL

EAN

The gang has to learn a series of basic hygiene rules: Brushing their hair and teeth, washing their face and hands, using clean clothes and taking a bath…There are a lot of things, but if they do them together, everything will be much easier.

This book includes:✘ A story about the gang to have fun with the family.✘ Everyday situations that boys and girls can relate to.✘ An amusing game to find the teddy bear in every drawing to keep

the child’s attention and develop observation skills.✘ A guide for parents with advices, tricks and recommendations.

TiTLES

iN Th

iS SEr

iES

ALWAYSCLEAN

A L W A Y S C L E A NTExT BY MErCè SE ix AND MEriTxELL NoguErA i LLuSTrATioNS BY roC io BoNiLL A

2 3

We like paintingIt’s so much fun drawing, painting and colouring in!

“Can you pass me the red, Sam?” Asks Lee. “I’m going to colour in this racing car.”

“Well I’m painting this doll’s dress green,” adds Rose.

“Blue!” shouts Sam, enthusiastic about his scribbles.

“Oh, boy!” Exclaims Lee. “You’re getting dirty…

You’ll have to go and wash your hands.”

4 5

What a table!After drawing, they must tidy up the material they have used and put each thing away in its place.

“Where do the crayons go? And the pencils?” Asks Lee.

“What a scatterbrain!” Rose answers him. “The pencils go in this jar and the crayons in this box.

It’s better that way, separate, because the crayons dirty everything…”

“Well done, Sam! We’ll keep our drawings in this folder, although we could also decorate

the bedroom walls with them…”

6 7

What dirty hands! Before eating, you must wash your hands with soap and water. You must

also wash them after going to the toilet and after playing. We touch a lot of things with our

hands, so it’s important to remember to wash them.

“Pass me the towel please, Rose. I’ll help Sam before he wets the whole floor,” says Lee.

“Here you are. I’ll take care of Lucy!” points Rose.

Time to wash our hands

8 9

What a cold!Lucy and Sam have caught a nasty cold. Shortly, Rose and Lee also start noticing

the symptoms…

“Atishoo!” Sneezes Rose.

“Cover your mouth, Rose. Do you remember what they’re always telling us?

When you sneeze, you have to cover your mouth with your hand to avoid

passing it on to others,” remembers Lee, pulling a serious face like grown-ups.

“Take a tissue, Sam. When you have blown well, throw it in the rubbish bin.”

10 11

Shhh…! Today the whole gang is going to see the doctor. They all have colds and the doctor

is going to examine them and prescribe them medicines. Mum has told them that

they have to be good, sit down peacefully and not be noisy.

“What silence!” Says Lee looking at his mother. “Why are they all whispering?”

12 13

Running, playing and, getting dirty

In the amusement park there are so many fun things to do that you spend your time

running from one place to another so as not to miss anything. “Come here, Rose!” Shouts

Lee excited. “We must go on the bumper cars, the merry-go-round and the ghost train.”

“Wait, the candy floss has left my hands sticky and I have to wash them.”

“While you wash yourself in the fountain, I’ll throw away the packet in the rubbish bin and

I’ll wait for you here, OK?”

Answers Lee, eager to ride on

the attractions.

14 15

We're fitDoing exercise is very healthy: It helps to strengthen your muscles, makes your heart work like

a clock and it also puts you in a good mood!

A trip to the park to take some exercise is always good fun. And there are so many

different ways to take exercise!

“Let’s have a race!” Encourages Lee as he does a twirl with the skateboard.

“We have to go to the fountain and back,” points Rose.

Sam gets into position and pulls a concentrated face: He is determined to win!

16 17

A good bathAfter a day full of games and activities, a good bath cleans and relaxes your whole body.

“Sam, you also have to rub behind your ears and between your toes,” Lee reminds him.

“And shampoo your hair well,” adds Rose.

“Bubble!” points Sam, without taking much notice of what they are saying to him.

18 19

Cutting your nailsAfter the bath, mum usually takes advantage to cut their fingernails and toenails.

They are soft and it is easier.

“Come on, Sam. Now it’s your turn,” says Rose. “And yours, Lee?”

“I’m going to pull the plug out of the bath to watch the whirlpool and then I’ll be

with you…”

20 21

BedtimeAt the end of the day, the gang is exhausted and they all feel like going to bed

to rest.

They love having a story read to them. Then they dream of princesses, knights,

fairies and castles…

It is important to go to bed early to sleep enough hours and to recover from

the day’s activities. Then when the sun comes up again,

they will have the energy for loads more

new adventures.

22 23

In the morningThere are so many things to do when you get up! Wash your face, brush your hair,

and brush your teeth…

“The water is so cold!” Exclaims Rose.

“Here’s the comb Sam. I’ve finished,” announces Lee. “Now I have to do my teeth…”

Sam is a sleepyhead and can’t manage to get into the morning routine. They always

have to help him. On the other hand, Lucy is watchful of all the details: Nothing

escapes her!

24 25

Clean clothes, dirty clothesYou have to be organized and help out at home. You shouldn’t leave clothes

thrown on the floor. When you get up, you must get dressed with clean clothes

and what is dirty from the day before goes in the basket!

“Lee, you’ve dropped a sock!” Informs Rose as she picks it up.

“Thank you! I’m going to put all the dirty clothes in the basket. I’m ready now.

Sam, Shall I help you with your slippers?”

26 27

Off we go!Sitting in their corresponding seats with their seat belts fastened… All ready to depart!

“Did you go to the toilet before getting in the car?” Reminds mum.

“Yes and we’ve also taken a bottle of water in case we get thirsty along the way,”

explains Lee.

“Then we have everything. Off we go!”

28 29

On a picnicGoing to the mountains is fantastic! Wetting your feet in a stream, chasing the little

lizards, running through the meadows and eating on the ground. It’s a great experience!

“Look! It’s a ladybird… I love its red colour and those black spots!” Exclaims Rose excited.

“Come here, guys!” Exclaims Lee with his feet in a stream. “It’s full of tadpoles!”

“I’m hungry,” says Sam looking at the basket of food.

“Alright, go with Lee to wash your hands in the water and then we’ll eat,” dad says

to Sam and Rose.

30 31

At schoolIn class, Rose, Lee and their friends have to be responsible, take good care of all their

things and wash their hands when they come in from the playground so as not to

dirty anything.

“I think that as well as my hands, I’ll wash my face too,” says Lee hotly. “I sweated a

lot playing ballgames with the boys!”

“I dirtied my skirt too,” adds Rose coyly as she shakes her clothes well.

“Ready to go back to class!” Announces Lee after having dried himself well

and checking that Rose has finished smartening herself up.

32 33

PERSONAL HYGIENEWashing hands

✘ Explain to him in order the steps to follow to wash your hands: Turn on the tap, take the soap, rub your hands, rinse them, turn off the tap and dry your hands well with a towel…

✘ Give him an example and wash your hands with him or her so that the child can copy you.✘ It is fundamental that the child starts washing his hands before each meal. In the beginning,

you should make sure that he soaps them and rinses them properly.✘ Gradually incorporate the rest of the essential moments when he should wash his hands: After going to the

toilet, after touching an animal, after playing outside or in the sand and in fact, whenever they have got dirty for one reason or another.

✘ The child must be able to reach the washbasin and the towel easily, so a stool would be very useful to help him to overcome the height difference.

Brushing teeth✘ Initially, if the child is small, you could present it as a game in front of the mirror: Pulling faces, sticking

their tongue out, opening their mouth very wide and brushing their teeth. They should not use toothpaste until the age of 3 years old, as most children don’t know how to rinse their mouths and they swallow it.

✘ You can explain very patiently to them that the toothbrush should go from top to bottom and from front to back. Although they may not follow the instructions strictly in the beginning, they will gradually learn to do so.

✘ Clean your teeth with the child and teach him to always follow the same order without forgetting the outer or inner part.

✘ If he gets tired before having covered all the parts, you could tell him a story while he finishes.✘ The acquisition of any habit requires repetition. The child should brush his teeth every day after

each meal and before going to bed.✘ He should also learn correctly, so the presence of an adult is advisable. If you don’t have time

to survey him properly, one good brush at night is better than two or three days of bad brushing.✘ Get the child used to not eat anything after brushing his teeth.

Soaping in the bath✘ When the child starts to soap himself, he should begin with the front part of the body, which he

can see and access easily.✘ The second phase involves asking him to wash himself in stages: First the arms and the hands,

then the legs and feet, then the tummy…

Parent's guideWe should consider the concept of hygiene in its broadest sense, as it encompasses personal hygiene, cleaning the house in particular and the surroundings in general, habits that promote healthiness (such as physical exercise, diet and sleep) and the prevention of illnesses. For this reason, it is fundamental to consider this from a very early age (from 2 years old) and to understand that the objective of hygiene is none other than personal wellbeing. Health and hygiene habits…

✘ Contribute to the physical wellbeing of the organism through cleanliness and the prevention of illnesses.

✘ Promote the child’s psychological wellbeing: They give him security and help him to organize himself and to be more self-sufficient. ✘ Are important within the social aspects of the individual: They help him to be accepted by others and thus make living together easier.

Nevertheless, cleanliness should not become an obsession for the parents. Rather than just telling the child not to get dirty or stained, you should teach him to wash himself and keep the surroundings clean.

MOTIVATION✘ Try to make cleaning tasks a fun and attractive activity and include them in the daily routine. Washing should

be pleasant: You should not threaten with punishments, but rather show the advantages.✘ As children like copying, it is important to teach through example and allow them to observe how to wash

their hands before sitting down at the table, brush their teeth after each meal, brush their hair before going out on the street…

✘ Go together to buy personal hygiene articles. If they are especially for children, they will be more encouraging: A doll-shaped toothbrush, a towel with their favourite toy character…

✘ You should explain to them why it is so important to take care about personal hygiene. Although they may not yet understand the meaning of words like germs and viruses, perhaps they might understand that some bugs are removed with a good wash and can make us ill if we don’t get rid of them.

✘ When the child is playing with a teddy bear or a doll and he pretends to feed him, ask him whether he has washed his hands or whether he has brushed his teeth after eating. This way, the child will incorporate the habits in a natural manner.

34 35

✘ You should be patient and dedicate time to him: If you soaped him yourself, you would surely finish sooner, but then that would not contribute to him learning and developing his independence.

✘ The bath should always be taken at the same time. It is advisable to take it in the evening, as it helps the child to relax, but always before dinner.

✘ Children under the age of 3 years old should take a bath every day and use neutral soap. The glove or sponge should be for individual usage.

✘ Children over 4 years old should take a bath or a shower at least three or four times a week, although it is preferable to do so daily, especially in summer.

✘ The hair should be washed two to three times a week, rubbing the head with the tips of your fingers (not with your nails). Then the hair should be rinsed well to ensure that no shampoo is left.

Brushing hair✘ The objective is to incorporate brushing the hair into the daily routine. At the age of 2 years old, children can hold

the brush and pass it through their hair a little clumsily. By practicing how to do it every day in front of the mirror, they will also use their manual skills.

✘ So that they practice, you could let your child play at hairdressing with you or with a doll.

Cleaning and cutting nails✘ Buy a small nailbrush and explain to them how and when to use it (for example, if they have been touching the soil).✘ It is advisable to cut them often. The cut should be rounded for the finger nails and straight for the toe nails (to

avoid ingrown toe nails).

DRESSING HYGIENEThe clothes should be changed every morning and you should not put dirty clothes from the day before onto a clean body. Of course, it is completely essential to change underwear daily. Children should wear comfortable clothes that are not too tight, are easy to wash and appropriate for each moment and situation of the day. To sleep, loose clothing is appropriate, different from that worn during the day (such as cotton pyjamas).Shoes should be comfortable and the right size for the feet. To maintain hygiene and to make the shoes last longer, they should be cleaned and brushed regularly.Both clothing and shoes should be appropriate for the time of the year.

SLEEP HYGIENESleeping is necessary so that the body can recover from the daily activity. Sleep requirements vary according to the age and activity carried out, although as a general rule, children from 4 to 12 years old need about 10 hours of sleep and teenagers need from 8 to 10.

Children should go to bed and get up at the same time so that their sleep rhythm is not altered. Sleeping is facilitated by a light dinner without stimulating drinks, relaxing activities such as a bath, reading or listening to a story, a silent bedroom, with not much light, a moderate temperate and a hard flat bed.

Among children, a lack of sleep results in tiredness, learning problems and has a negative influence on their personal equilibrium.

SPORT HYGIENEChildren should take some exercise every day. Depending on their age, this activity could consist in games, walks or doing individual or team sport.

The appropriate clothing and footwear should be used during the exercise and they should be changed at the end. The clothing should be light and comfortable to facilitate movement and transpiration.

They should not do sport on an empty stomach or during digestion. And they should avoid overexertion: The sport should be adapted to the abilities of each child.

PLAYING HYGIENEPlaying is the child’s main activity, especially when he is small. And on many occasions, it involves getting dirty. You should accept this fact and teach him than once he has finished, he must wash and change his clothes.

Similarly, it is important to encourage the child to keep his toys clean and tidy; this way, they will last longer.

Titles In This Series:

• A WHILE WITH SCREENS

• GOODBYE DuMMY

• No MoRE NAppIES

The Gang Series

Original title: Always Clean

Text: Mercè Seix and Meritxell Noguera

Illustrations: Rocio Bonilla

© Gemser Publications, S.L. 2012El Castell, 38 08329 Teià (Barcelona, Spain)www.mercedesros.com

ISBN: XXX-XX-XXXXX-XX-X

Printed in China

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced

in any form, by photostat, microfilm, xerography,

or any other means, or incorporated into any information

retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the

written permission of the copyright owner.

A L W A Y S C L E A NTExT BY MErCè SE ix AND MEriTxELL NoguErA i LLuSTrATioNS BY roC io BoNiLL A

Th

e Gang Series

ALWA

YS CL

EAN

The gang has to learn a series of basic hygiene rules: Brushing their hair and teeth, washing their face and hands, using clean clothes and taking a bath…There are a lot of things, but if they do them together, everything will be much easier.

This book includes:✘ A story about the gang to have fun with the family.✘ Everyday situations that boys and girls can relate to.✘ An amusing game to find the teddy bear in every drawing to keep

the child’s attention and develop observation skills.✘ A guide for parents with advices, tricks and recommendations.

TiTLES

iN Th

iS SEr

iES

ALWAYSCLEAN