Personal Hygiene and Good Manners

1. Respect: an individual should have good respect such as: showing great respect to elders by helping and greeting them decently; being polite and humble; and talking in a clear and calm voice.

   

   Boy helping an old woman to carry firewood

2. Tidiness: everybody should look smart all the time. An individual should: keep the bedroom neat; brush shoes; wear clean and ironed clothes; cut nails and hairs short; comb or plait the hair nicely, etc.

3. Discipline: an individual should be well disciplined e.g. avoid using bad language; cover, your mouth when sneezing, yawning or coughing; and portray good postures e.g. sitting properly in class and at home.

4. Good eating habits (table manners) which include the following: Eating at regular time intervals; Avoid talking with food is in the mouth; do not pile food up on your plate. Serve yourself with a reasonable amount while considering others.

5. Putting things in proper order: All objects in the surrounding should be kept properly and in a right place e.g.: Rubbish should be disposed as required; Books should be kept in shelves; Cooking and eating utensils should be kept well in the cupboards; Clothes should be properly ironed, folded and kept.

Requirements of personal hygiene and good manners include towel, soap, comb, brush, basin, toothbrush, a pair of scissors, razor blades, water and cosmetics.

1. Both sexes should wash their bodies regularly
2. During menstruation, girls should use good quality sanitary towels or pads and change them as necessary.
3. Boys should undergo circumcision and females should avoid female genital mutilation
4. Under wears should be washed and changed regularly
5. Both boys and girls should avoid irresponsible sexual behaviors such as prostitution and rape so as to keep away from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
6. Hair in the armpits or pubic areas should be shaved or trimmed.

1. Reduces chances of pathogen infection
2. Enhances social acceptance in the society
3. Prevents one from getting choked while eating
4. Maintains natural body state
5. Maintains personality of an individual in the society
6. One becomes respected by others
7. Maintains health of the body and mind

Puberty is the stage when children begin to mature biologically and psychologically and their bodies become capable of reproduction. It usually occurs between ages 10 and 14 in girls and ages between 12 and 16 in boys.

During this time the body develops secondary sexual characteristics which create difference between males and female. Puberty leads to adolescence.

Adolescence is transitional period between childhood and adulthood

1. Body size increase rapidly
2. Breasts develops
3. Hair grows in the armpits and pubic area
4. Waist narrows and hips broaden.
5. Menstruation begins
6. Pimples may develop on the face
7. Sweat and oil glands become more active leading change in body
8. High pitched voice

Physical changes at puberty for a girl

1. Body size increase rapidly
2. Reproductive organs enlarge
3. Muscles grow
4. Hair grows on the face (beards) and in the armpits and pubic areas
5. Shoulder and chest broaden and voice deepens
6. Wet dreams begin and sperm production begins
7. Pimples may grow/develop on the face
8. Sweat and oil glands become more active leading to change the body odour.

Physical changes at puberty for a boy

Also aim at being well behaved all the time by taking the following measures

1. Resist negative peer pressure
2. Get counseling from a reliable person
3. Apologize if you hurt other people's feelings
4. Do not engage in sexual activities before marriage.
5. Strive to be respectful to your elders even when you disagree with them.
6. Get involved in positive extracurricular activities e.g. sports, debating and drama.

Avoid engage on:

1. Taking drug (drug abuse)
2. Sexual affair
3. Being rude to elders