Practice first by blowing with the mouth. Blowing bubbles, using a soapy bubble mixture and a plastic bubble wand, is a very satisfying way to learn to control breath by blowing. The tradition of blowing out birthday candles offers another perfect opportunity to practice this skill in a fun way. You can pretend to blow out the candle, while allowing your child to actually blow it out. [2] X Research source You can also hold a piece of tissue paper about six inches from your child’s face, and show them how to make the tissue move by blowing on it. Other things your child can blow with their mouth include pinwheels, straws, and balloons, all of which help reinforce that air should come through their lips.
When you’re first teaching your child to blow through their nose, remind them to keep their mouth closed. It can help to cover one nostril, then the other, to reinforce the feeling of air blowing through the nose. This will be easier to do when he’s well, both because they will likely feel better and be more interested in learning new things, and because they will have more of a sense of air moving through the nostrils. Make a game out of blowing air through the nose. Children often are motivated by races. You can create a “race” for two extremely lightweight objects (a sequin or a feather works well) and see who can blow it from one end of a table to the other the quickest. [3] X Research source
Explain the purpose of blowing the nose. Show your child what mucus is. Use pictures, or hold a mirror up to your child’s nose so that they can see what’s inside. [4] X Research source By teaching your child to connect excess mucus to colds, allergies, etc. , you’ll increase their understanding of why blowing their nose is important. This will help them make sense of why you might ask them to “blow their nose” when they needs to.
Try different varieties of tissue paper, and have your child tell you which one they prefer. Some children may be extremely sensitive to texture or scents that you may not even notice. Having a tissue paper that the child doesn’t mind will help this teaching process tremendously. Make sure you have plenty of the kind of tissue paper your child prefers ready when they’re sick. When your child is sick, it’s likely that he’ll resist doing anything new. They will likely want to be left alone, or cuddled, so be gentle.
Siblings can also serve as role models for your child as they learns how to blow their nose. Younger siblings might be distinguished by the fact that they aren’t old enough to blow their own nose. Often, this comparison has a good deal of attraction for an older sibling. Explicitly point out the steps of blowing the nose, as you do them or as others do. Narrate the process as you go through the steps.
Keep a gentle, light tone of voice when teaching this new skill. If your child wants to hold the tissue themselves, let them! While it may be easier for the child to learn simply by blowing into a tissue you hold, some children may prefer to be in charge of their own tissue. Consider using a humidifier or saline spray to help loosen the mucus if your child is struggling to blow their nose while sick.
Sometimes the routine of throwing the tissue into the trash can will be a fun incentive for the child in itself. Provide plenty of praise for each tissue that goes from tissue box, to nose, to trash. Always have a trash bin close by as you are teaching this process. If you don’t actually have a trash bin so close at hand, improvise by finding another receptacle (such as a plastic container, or an empty bowl) that can function as a temporary trash location until you can move it.
