Contact: Brian Sansoni, 202-662-2517 (office); via email at bsansoni@cleaning101.com

Survey: TV, Movies Play Key Roles In Teaching Children Good Hygiene

LINK TO SURVEY SUMMARY

Washington, D.C. – May 6, 2004 – A nationwide survey of parents with children under the age of 15 indicates that TV and movies play a significant role in educating children about good hygiene.

“Children’s programming can play a critical role in educating youth about cleanliness, which is directly linked to today’s societal health issues, such as asthma and disease prevention,” said Nancy Bock, SDA Vice President of Education.

The data – contained in research commissioned by The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) – shows that 41% of parents believe these two media are channels through which their children learn about hygiene. More than one-third of parents (37%) claimed that the media influenced them when they were children.

“With broadcast, cable and satellite networks providing 24/7 children’s programming, there is a wonderful opportunity for the creative community to incorporate common sense hygiene and cleaning messages into storylines,” added Bock.

THE BEST CHANNEL REMAINS THE FAMILY

The vast majority of surveyed parents (93%) believe that the single most likely place children learn about hygiene is at home. But respondents to SDA’s National Cleaning Survey cited a number of other sources of information conveying hygiene messages to kids (choices not limited to one):

• Classrooms (70%)
• Physicians (54%)
• Self-learned (50%)
• Books, Newspapers or Magazines (42%)
• Friends (35%)

“It is increasingly vital that children fully understand and practice good hygiene behaviors. Teaching children these important life skills can make a world of difference to their improved health,” Bock concluded.

The independent consumer research was completed in April 2004 on behalf of SDA by International Communications Research (ICR). ICR questioned 557 American parents of children under the age of 15. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.15 percent.

Since 1926, SDA has provided educational materials on the benefits of good hygiene practices and their relation to public health. One of our ongoing programs is a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “Healthy Schools, Healthy People: It’s A SNAP.”

SNAP – the School Network for Absenteeism Prevention – challenges middle schools to help develop programs that make hand hygiene a priority for students, teachers, school health personnel, administrators, and parents. For information on participating in SNAP, log on to www.itsasnap.org.

Additional Weblinks:

SDA’s Cleaning to Control Asthma and Allergies: www.cleaning101.com/asthma

SDA members: www.cleaning101.com/about/members.html

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About SDA

The Soap and Detergent Association ( www.cleaning101.com), the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry, is the non-profit trade association representing manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products; their ingredients; and finished packaging, and oleochemical producers. SDA members produce more than 90 percent of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S. The SDA is located at 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.

The Soap and Detergent Association National Cleaning Survey, Spring 2004

The Media’s Influence on Children’s Cleaning Habits

The following questions were asked of 557 American parents of children under the age of 15. The independent consumer research study was completed in April 2004, on behalf of The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), by International Communications Research (ICR). The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.15 percent.

As a child, which of the following influenced YOU to develop good hygiene habits?

Results

• Parents or family (95%)
• Self learned (71%)
• School or classroom (70%)
• Physician or healthcare worker (50%)
• Books, newspapers or magazines (49%)
• A friend (39%)
• TV or movies (37%)
• Other (2%)

Trends

• Overall, women were more likely to cite sources outside of the home than men.
• Men (41%) listed TV or movies more frequently than women (33%).

Through which of the following do you think your child learns good hygiene habits?

Results

• Parents or family (99%)
• School or classroom (70%)
• Physician or healthcare worker (54%)
• Self learned (50%)
• Books, newspapers or magazines (42%)
• TV or movies (41%)
• A friend (35%)
• Other (2%)

Trends

• TV or movies appears to have a stronger influence over today’s generation of children, according to their parents. TV and movies also have a stronger influence than friends.
• Parents/family still remain the number one place parents expect children to get information on hygiene.

Which ONE of the following do you believe is the most likely place your child would learn good hygiene habits?

Results