Admit it, there are days when showering is the last thing you have time to do. But being seen as disheveled and realizing you smell while being introduced to another parent during after-school pick-up is not an option. Much like adults, kids don't always feel the need to bathe. Their schedules are cram-packed with a desire to experience life, have fun, and not slow down for annoying things like bath time. So, how do we get those adorable mongrels to shower without a nightly battle? The best way to get your kids to bathe, outsmart them.

How exactly do I get my child to shower or take a bath without a fight? Here are 4 parenting tips.

1. Implement a routine and stick with it.

Structure and discipline are vital fundamentals every kid needs, so if bathing every day is a must, don't let them slide on the issue. Set up a reward system for every time they take a bath without a fight (getting in and getting out), and once the lifeskill is mastered provide your child with something from the family’s Wishfinity universal wish list.

2. Make bath time fun.

Maintaining cleanliness shouldn't feel like a chore. For younger kids, there are bath toys and bath paints. For older kids, try their favorite songs and see if they can get their shower done in two songs or less. This is also a great way to conserve water.

3. Change up the routine to find the ideal time for you and your child.

If it's a bath at the end of the day, try having bath time after dinner instead of before bed. This strategy works best for kids excited to enjoy a little after-dinner/before-bed screen time (playing video games, surfing the web, watching programs). 

4. Is the fight about who goes first?

If you have a lot of kids to shuttle through the bathroom, set a schedule so younger kids know exactly when they are expected to get in and out of the shower. Let teens take responsibility for managing their shower time around the fixed schedule of other family members.

Having a child who takes forever to bathe can throw everyone else off their schedule. In this case, it's best to change the line-up. The kid who takes the longest in the bathroom must either be the last to bathe at night or the first in the morning. Then, set a countdown clock to ensure every family member knows how much time they have remaining.