A tip for brushing children's teeth

This is a tip for brushing children's teeth which kills two birds with one stone: you brush while you teach!

Tamar and I have been singing the toothbrush ABCs when we're brushing the teeth of our children already since we lived in London and Sara was a little toddler. We sing the Dutch ABC song for the top teeth and the English ABCs for the bottom ones. Funnily enough, the songs are just about long enough for all of the brushing (of course the total amount of brushing time depends little on the speed of the which the songs are sung, which is adaptable).

Sara and Pim, who are now brushing their own teeth, still hum their ABCs when they are brushing! It is a sweet little tradition, which makes brushing always a bit more fun, and has the advantage that my kids have known their ABCs since a young age. And also, that brushing always takes the minimum time of twice the ABC song.

Another tip for brushing children's teeth (if you choose to break the ABC routine!) is to 'brush away' all of the food the child has eaten during the day. It's a fun way to remember and summarise the different activities and helps the child to process and calm down before bed.

Do you have a tip for brushing children's teeth, or any teeth brushing traditions in your family?

xxx Esther

PS Tips for traveling light with children