My husband and I have also told our 10 year old daughter that if she doesn't shower, she will be the stinky kid at school.

If she refuses to take a shower, I tell her she won't be able to do something she likes such as playing playstation or going outside. This works for us.

Good luck. I feel your pain. Or should I say I smell it?

My sister in law had a similar problem with my niece, and the solutions that worked were telling her if she didn't shower, then she wouldn't be able to do something she really wanted to do, and also my sis told her that if she wasn't going to bathe regularly and work at having good hygiene, then she wasn't going to buy her any new clothes, hair accessories, jewelry,etc. After my niece figured out my sis was serious, the problem quickly cleared up.

My brother took showers once a week when he was around 9. When he turned 12, he started taking 2 showers a day (and still is). I guess your daughter will realize on her own that taking showers is a must especially when she gets to middle school. In the meantime, if you want to force it upon her, maybe give her an ultimatum or take her privileges until she makes it a regular routine.

My girls are ten and they do not have a choice they both get them selves up at 6 AM take a shower get ready for school and then we have breakfast. This maybe due to how I like to think outside the box EX. they alawys left there shoe by the door so I got tried of saying pick up your shoes so I hide all the left shoes I would find laying so they would have two left feet. now they pick up there shoes. so my advice for the shower is if she dose not take when told then the next moring when you wake her up get a bucket of water. Maybe the next night she will take a shower

I dont understand what your problem is.... you are the mother, not her!!! Go to the bathroom and turn on the shower! She has parts of the body that if they are not cleaned, can become infected and that reflects on you! Good luck!

Mammamia, I think Tarnished question is about how to get her daughter to want to shower regularly on her own, not how to force her daughter to take a shower. True, if kids don't wash themselves and get an infection it could reflect poorly on their parents, but more importantly, poor hygeine reflects poorly on the kids themselves. "Do it because I said so" doesn't instill any sense of ownership, and doesn't work forever. Kids have to learn to make their own choices about how to present themselves to the world.

What motivated my daughter to shower more was when someone made fun of her at school for her appearance. All my nagging up until then meant nothing compared to one ugly comment from one of her classmates. Yes, I was embarassed, and it hurt me to see her get hurt like that, but when it happened, she experienced the consequence of her own choice, and that is what changed her behavior.

She still doesn't shower enough when she's on vacation though, lol. She plays DDR all day and sweats - PU

Have a spa day with your daughter and give each other facials, manicures, pedicures, etc. Use bubbly, smelly, fru-fru stuff. I used to do this with my daughter. It's fun, and I could make sure she REALLY got clean at least once in awhile. And I could talk to her about things like washing behind the ears and rinsing out all the shampoo in a girl-to-girl way.

Anyways, I hope this helps. If not, just remember, "this too shall pass" lol...

I find it interesting that people think she will grow out of it. My step-sister is now 25 and she is still the stinky nasty girl that doesn't shower enough.

My 12 year old is the same way. I have to keep making her shower. Once she is in there, she takes forever, but she fights me tooth and nail!! I don't want to have to bribe her every day, and she doesn't seem to care if she is the smelly kid. I can't get her to brush her teeth either. She also gets impatigo (SP?) often for not wiping and washing down there. It looks like a horribly sore diaper rash that's infected. Doctor has to prescribe a cream, and it quickly will spread to any open cut/scratch on her body. It's a nightmare. If you figure out anything, let me know. I want her to understand she NEEDS to shower and brush, no matter what she feels.

OMG my daughter is the same too and she is nine aswell. I am very strict though and tell her that she needs to wash as she smells and people do notice!I also make her miss out on things too if we argue about it..."fine no simpsons tonight...no dessert...you will have to have abath with Tom and Lil and they pee in it!" she hates that last one...especially when she did have to bathe with the twins and Tommy popped (or should i say pooped) a floater...i am saving that story for her 21st!
Good luck am passing you some formaldahae(huge sp) now!

As im reading i pick up the phone and call my daughter whos finishing up her homework as im telling her to take a shower, brush your teeth bathe you ears(she just got pierced ears) take your meds shes like mom i got it im so blessed with my daughter we took a hygeine class for girlscouts and i think thats stuck with i still have to remind her I can tell abig difference from 9 to 10 so hopefully it will get better for you to.....good luck....Lisa

Both my kids went through a stage where they hated their showers, but I never gave in, there was nothing (even dinner sometimes)until they showered and I would smell them to make sure they washed in there (my son was famous for forgetting to use soap) and after a few months they never argue anymore. Sometimes I would give them dessert, only after they got out of the shower too. Good luck to you all.. showers should not be an option for kids.

I agree with the parents in this thread that say they will grow out of it. When they start to be consious of what their peers think of them, it will change pretty fast. All you can do is set a good example, this is no relfection on you. Loving a child is also giving them the room they need to grow I think.

I totally know what you are going through. I have the same problem with my daughter....eeeeeeekkkkk. I don't know what advice I can give, so I am gona read the advice that other ppl give, so I can learn what to do with you. OMG GIRLS......EEEEEKKKKKK

I know this one drives me nuts too..although I turn the shower on and make her get in..it's brushing her teeth that is the one that really gets me..Sometimes i have to stand in the bathroom and watch her do it,or she'll lie.Hello-the dentist is so freakin expensive!!So that one makes me mad!!