Another from the OoUWP

More from the quill of Prunella Post, Assistant for Educational Outreach and Issues Advocacy at the Office of Underage Wizard Protection:

Hello again, Children of Hogwarts! I can't tell you how it tickled me last evening to see so many of you talking about the pamphlets our office has provided. I hope that today I can inspire a few more of you to ask your Prefect or the Matron for one or more of these helpful resources.

One of the challenges of being away at school is the need to do for yourselves things that parents do for younger children, and you must very often remember to do them for yourselves without any reminders or prompting. Many of these things are daily tasks that should become life-long habits. Others are situational choices and actions that require one to use one's native wits soundly. As we like to say in my line of work: Self-Protection Is a Matter of Self-Preparedness!

What sorts of things do I have in mind?

1. Personal Hygiene: It is very important that every child bathe every day, not only to keep your body fit and healthy, but also for the comfort of those around you. Don't wait until a Prefect or teacher docks points because you smell! But it's not just a matter of washing, is it? You must also make a habit of cleaning your teeth every morning and every evening, and you must remember to always wash your hands after using the toilet and before every meal. But how, you might ask, is one to remember such things when there are so many other things to remember? Well, one way would be to make a game of it, tallying points to see whether you or one of your mates earns the highest Cleanliness Score by each day's end. Another way to encourage good habits is to learn clever spells to make the tasks more pleasant. For instance, in our pamphlets on the subject, we include charms to make your soap sparkle and another for your shampoo that turns your hair ghastly colours for an hour or so after you've washed it. And there's a charm to use if one of your housemates has difficulty remembering to wash his hands: it will turn his hands green if he does not wash them at least once in three hours! You see, the trick is very often simply to make good behaviour enjoyable!

2. Proper Dress: It is nearly as important to make proper clothing choices as it is to observe basic cleanliness. For instance, did you know that if you fail to change your socks every day, you may develop very nasty fungal infestations of the toes and feet? Trust me: you do not wish to have this calamity befall you! And, of course, it's important to dress warmly when it is chilly and to take your rain gear when you will be going out on wet days; likewise, it's only proper to observe the rules for keeping your uniforms tidy and decently buttoned at all times. As everyone knows, your clothes say a great deal about you: frumpish, slovenly or provocative dress signal defects of character in the plainest of terms.

Self-presentation is a matter for careful thought: you should be as circumspect in your wardrobe as you are cautious to never tell unwise things about yourself in your public diary. Take great care of the way you present yourself to others.

3. Dietary Considerations: Another of the challenges of being away at school--and not just any school, but Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the kitchen elves are famous for their delicious fare--is learning to make sound choices about the food you eat at every meal. I do not only mean that it is important not to pass up proper food and eat only sweets, though, of course, you must avoid this temptation, by all means! No. It is also necessary to Eat Foods of Different Colours. If you eat only beige foods (potatoes, cheese sandwiches, tuna noodle hotdish, cauliflower cheese, leek soup, bread and crumpets), or if you eat only meat, you will grow pale and wan, your hair will grow dull and lank, you will feel weary, and your attention will flag; very soon you will find yourself in Matron's care! No. There is one very easy rule to follow that will help you keep a sound diet every day: be sure to choose and eat at least four different colours of food at every meal--award yourself bonus points for selecting the most vibrantly coloured vegetables and fruits!!

If you make an effort in these three areas (hygiene, dress, and diet) every day, you will find that your life improves immeasurably. To learn more about these important topics, ask Madam Pomfrey or your Prefects for copies of the following pamphlets:

* That's Why They Make Galoshes
* Hand Washing: Your Health Depends on It
* Clean Your Teeth or They'll Fall Out
* Think Before You Sink (Lakeside Safety)
* Change Your Socks and Avoid Dungeon Rot
* Button Up: Sartorial Suggestions for Modesty's Sake
* A Carrot By Any Other Name Would Taste as Lovely
* The Bitter Truth about Sweets
* Eat Not Too Little, Nor Yet Too Much: The Golden Mean at Table
* The Mighty, Magnificent Pea: There's Power in the Pod!
* Say 'Allo to Aubergine: Meeting New Foods Can Be Fun!
* Old, Cold, and Mouldy: Why You Shouldn't Take Food to Your Dormitory
* Make No Mistake: Poisonous Things To Avoid

I look forward to sharing more with you in the days ahead. In the meantime, Keep Your Wits About You and Be Safe!

Ms Prunella Post, AEOIA
Office of Underage Wizard Protection