The shower at Jen's house

Have a boy who hates to shower?

You are not alone!

When a mom recently asked the Building Boys Facebook group, "Anyone else have a teenage boy who hates to shower?" she was quickly inundated with support and sympathy.

Personal hygiene, it seems, is not a priority for most tween and teen boys.

Lots of moms said they're dealing with the exact same issue. Others said that their boys spend a lot of time in the shower, but come out with unwashed, still-dirty hair.

Is this lack of interest in appearance and, um, smell, merely a stage that will resolve without intervention?

Or should parents and teachers take a more active role in teaching and reinforcing hygiene habits?

Turns out, the best approach is actually a combination of those two strategies.
In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss:

* WHY some boys seems oblivious to their own stench
* The essential role of 5th grade teachers in the hygiene battle
* How colored liquid soap can help boys shower effectively
* "Man soap" vs. "girly soap"
* Axe bombs (Don't know what that is? Listen in at 12:41!)
* When -- and how -- to have the hygiene talk
* When boys should start using deodorant - & how to make sure your boys use it regularly (Listen carefully for Jen's pro tips!)
* The role of role-modeling in personal hygiene
* How to get the stench out of your boys' gym clothes and sports uniforms
* Tooth brushing (Spoiler: Instill good tooth brushing habits when you boys are young!)
* Hair care
* How to combine male bonding and hygiene rituals (not as weird as it sounds!)
* BEING NEUTRAL!

Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 120:
Boying Up: How to be Brave, Bold and Brilliant. by Mayim Bialik -- A great book to leave laying around the house. Includes detailed hygiene instructions for boys.

Parenting Teen Boys Is... -- BuildingBoys post by Jen. Includes this pic:

Why Do Teenagers Smell Bad? Study Suggests They May Be Unable to Detect Own Scent -- report of Danish research