Hearing: blow your nose properly

You will need:

  • Tissues (disposing of them in the rubbish and washing hands after use)
  • If you do not have tissues use toilet paper or a cotton hanky
blowyournose

You can:

Teach your child to blow their nose correctly by:

  • Breathing in through the mouth
  • Closing lips tightly
  • Blowing firmly into a tissue through the nose

N.B. 2 or 3 blows may not clear all the mucus from the nose. It is best to blow 5 or 6 times

You can also:

  • Get your child to practice blowing their nose when it’s clear.
  • Encourage your child to puff or blow through their nose; see if they can get a tissue to move with a puff from the nose.
  • Encourage your child to blow bubbles in the bath through their nose (if they are comfortable doing this).

Important

  • Do not squeeze your nose when blowing
  • Do not sniff

Did you know:

Your child’s hearing is important for all learning. If your child has had a runny nose for two or more months they may have glue ear as the eustachian tubes could be blocked.

The signs might be:

  • Unclear speech
  • Not listening
  • Difficult behaviour
  • Frequent bouts of earache
  • Snoring and breathing through the mouth

Make your home smoke free: tobacco smoke can irritate nasal passages and may lead to glue ear.

At your child’s free B4 School Check, their hearing and vision will be tested. Check with your doctor to find out who provides this free service.

A clean nose:

  • Warms the air going into your lungs
  • Moistens the air making it easier to breathe
  • Acts as a filter for dust and germs

What your child is learning:

Self help skills for healthy living.