Maintaining good hygiene is habit forming; once kids have practice in taking care of their bodies, it will become automatic. Using little rhymes, sayings and games for encouragement works more effectively than nagging, and some kids will respond to using products like shampoo, soaps and toothbrushes they pick out themselves. Even toddlers can begin learning to care for themselves; by the time kids are in middle school they should be able to manage their own personal hygiene routines.

A teenager who stays up until 1:00 in the morning on Saturday and sleeps until noon the next day is telling his parent some vital information: if left to his own devices, he would get 11 hours of sleep. That same teenager, staying up until 1:00 on a Tuesday morning and getting up when the alarm clock rings at 6:30 a.m. is obviously not going to be prepared for the day on half the sleep he got on a weekend night.

Head bumps occur frequently in children, from falling off a bike to tripping down the stairs. Other children experience more severe head trauma. The severity of the head trauma affects the course of action for parents or caregivers. An understanding of child head trauma prepares you so you know what to look for and when to seek medical help.

Parents may be convinced by stats and facts about the dangers of too much sun, but it may take some effort to make believers out of their kids. In addition to explanations about why it's important to take precautions in the sun, it helps to let kids participate in planning their protection. Visual aids, charts and choices can lead to compliance when it comes to avoiding too much sun.

Most thermometers on the market today designed for babies are digital, and for good reason. The mercury contained in standard thermometers creates a health hazard. The American Academy of Pediatrics states, "we advise parents to remove any mercury thermometers from the home to prevent accidental exposure to mercury, which is a toxin," in the book "Caring for Your Baby and Young Child." Using digital baby thermometers makes taking your baby's temperature not only safer, but easier to read as well.

There are plenty of skin disorders that can trouble in teens ranging from seborrheic dermatitis, or dandruff, on the top of their heads, to tinea pedis, or athlete's foot, at the tip of their toes. The most common skin problem facing teens is acne vulgaris, known in teen vernacular as pimples, zits, whiteheads or blackheads. Around 85 percent of teens will suffer from an acne breakout every year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Epilepsy, also known as a seizure disorder, is a condition that causes a person to experience unusual discharges of electricity in the brain. A child needs to have a least two seizures before he receives a diagnosis of epilepsy, according to the Mayo Clinic. Though people have come to better understand the condition thanks to improvements in science and medical care, several myths about epilepsy still abound.

Although type 1 diabetes was once a death sentence, research has come a long way in creating new treatments and ways to manage the disease. The best way for you to help your child is to get him on a regimen that includes the proper medication, a heart-healthy diet, regular visits to the doctor and plenty of physical activity to ensure that he is able to lead a normal life.

Dandruff may begin to be a problem as your child hit puberty. Most younger children don't have to worry about dandruff, according to Baby Center. When children hit puberty, their hair glands begin to produce more oil, which can cause skin flakes from the scalp to clump together and become more visible. A yeast may also have some responsibility in causing dandruff to form on your child's scalp.

If your doctor diagnoses your child with juvenile diabetes, remember that it is not a death sentence. Although there is no cure, research has made large strides in the treatment and management of this disease. With your help and the proper medication, a heart-healthy diet and consistent physical activity, your child can lead a long and normal life.