Hey Duggee: The Tooth Brushing Badge

Hey Duggee: The Tooth Brushing Badge is a cheerful early-learning board book that helps young children understand the importance of brushing their teeth through a funny story featuring Duggee and the Squirrels. With familiar characters, colourful illustrations, a memorable tooth-brushing song, and a two-minute brushing activity, this book can make morning and bedtime routines more enjoyable.

Duggee and the Squirrels are taking a lovely walk on a sunny day when they meet a lion with extremely smelly breath. The lion needs some friendly help, so the Squirrels teach him how to brush his teeth while singing a special song.

Published by BBC Children’s Books, Hey Duggee: The Tooth Brushing Badge is designed for children aged approximately two years and above. Its simple story can help families introduce a positive and consistent tooth-brushing routine without making it feel like a difficult chore.

Meet the Lion with Smelly Breath

Duggee, Tag, Norrie, Roly, Happy, and Betty are enjoying their walk when they encounter a lion. Unfortunately, the lion’s breath smells very unpleasant!

Instead of laughing at him or leaving him alone, the Squirrels decide to help. They explain that cleaning his teeth can make his mouth feel fresher and teach him a fun way to brush.

Parents can make the story interactive by asking:

• “Who do Duggee and the Squirrels meet?”
• “Why does the lion need their help?”
• “What should the lion use to clean his teeth?”
• “When do you brush your teeth?”
• “Can you pretend to brush like the Squirrels?”
• “Are you ready to earn your Tooth Brushing Badge?”

These questions encourage children to listen, respond, and connect the story with their own daily routine.

Brush for Two Minutes with the Squirrels

The Squirrels teach the lion a special tooth-brushing song that lasts for two minutes. Singing while brushing gives children something entertaining to focus on and can help them understand how long the activity should continue.

Parents can read or sing along with the story before moving to the bathroom for the child’s actual routine. The book can become a familiar signal that it is almost time to brush.

Families might use it:

• Before morning tooth brushing
• As part of the bedtime routine
• When introducing a first toothbrush
• When a child is reluctant to brush
• Before a dental appointment
• During discussions about personal care

The aim is to create a calm, positive association between the story and the routine.

Making Tooth Brushing More Enjoyable

Some young children may feel impatient or resistant when asked to brush their teeth. Familiar characters can make the experience feel more playful and predictable.

Parents can invite children to imagine that they are members of the Squirrel Club. Duggee can become their friendly guide, while completing the routine earns an imaginary Tooth Brushing Badge.

Adults can use encouraging phrases such as:

• “Let’s brush like Duggee!”
• “Can you show the lion how it is done?”
• “The Squirrels are brushing too.”
• “We are nearly ready to earn our badge!”
• “Well done, little Squirrel!”

Positive encouragement can make the routine feel like an achievement.

Learning Through Songs and Repetition

Young children often enjoy repeated phrases, songs, and predictable actions. The tooth-brushing song provides a memorable structure that families can use again and again.

Repetition may help children remember:

• When it is time to brush
• What items are used
• That brushing takes time
• The order of their routine
• That personal care is a regular activity

Children may eventually begin requesting the story or song themselves. This familiarity can help the routine feel less surprising.

Introducing Personal-Care Vocabulary

Hey Duggee: The Tooth Brushing Badge introduces words connected with teeth, brushing, personal care, and daily routines.

Parents can use the illustrations to talk about:

• Teeth
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Mouths
• Breath
• Morning
• Bedtime
• Clean and dirty
• Fresh and smelly

Adults can point to the relevant pictures, say each word clearly, and encourage children to repeat it. They can also name familiar items when preparing to brush.

Following a Simple Routine

The story gives parents an opportunity to explain that some activities happen regularly. Tooth brushing can become one step within a predictable morning or bedtime sequence.

A bedtime routine might include:

1. Putting away toys
2. Changing into night clothes
3. Brushing teeth
4. Reading a story
5. Going to sleep

Children often respond well when they know what will happen next. Reading Hey Duggee: The Tooth Brushing Badge at a consistent time can help connect the book with the routine.

Encouraging Kindness and Helping Others

The Squirrels do more than teach tooth brushing—they notice that someone needs help and respond kindly. They do not simply complain about the lion’s breath. Instead, they show him what to do.

Parents can use this moment to discuss:

• Helping someone learn
• Speaking kindly
• Avoiding unkind teasing
• Showing patience
• Sharing useful knowledge
• Working together

The story demonstrates that a problem can sometimes be solved through friendly support.

Pretend Play with Duggee

Children can act out the story using a toy toothbrush or safe pretend-play items. One toy can become the lion while another plays Duggee.

Children can pretend to:

• Meet the lion
• Explain why brushing is helpful
• Demonstrate the brushing movement
• Sing the special song
• Award the lion a badge
• Celebrate with a Duggee Hug

Pretend play allows children to explore the routine before completing it themselves.

Developing Listening and Comprehension

Parents can pause during the story and ask children what happened or what they think will happen next.

After reading, adults can ask:

• “Why was the lion’s breath smelly?”
• “Who helped him?”
• “What did the Squirrels teach?”
• “How long was their song?”
• “Which badge did they earn?”

Remembering these details may support listening, comprehension, sequencing, vocabulary, and communication.

Earn the Tooth Brushing Badge

After helping the lion learn the routine, the Squirrels can earn their Tooth Brushing Badge. The badge provides a rewarding conclusion and celebrates their achievement.

Parents can pretend to award their child the same badge after completing their own brushing routine. Children can also draw or colour a homemade badge showing a toothbrush, a smiling tooth, or their favourite Squirrel.

This turns a familiar daily responsibility into something children can feel proud of completing.

A Sturdy Board Book for Daily Use

The compact board-book format is designed for small hands. Its thick pages are easier for toddlers and preschool children to hold and turn than ordinary paper pages.

The sturdy construction makes the book suitable for repeated reading as part of a morning or bedtime routine. Its small square size also makes it convenient for carrying during family trips.

Parents should keep the physical book away from water and toothpaste while using it near the bathroom.

Supporting Early Childhood Development

Sharing Hey Duggee: The Tooth Brushing Badge may encourage:

• Personal-care awareness
• Routine recognition
• Early vocabulary
• Listening and comprehension
• Memory and sequencing
• Imaginative play
• Kindness and cooperation
• Parent-child communication
• Confidence in completing daily tasks

The playful approach allows children to learn through a familiar story rather than a formal lesson.

About Hey Duggee

Hey Duggee is a BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning animated preschool series about a friendly dog who runs the Squirrel Club. Duggee leads Tag, Norrie, Roly, Happy, and Betty through games, outdoor adventures, creative projects, and useful new experiences.

Featuring the voice of comedian and presenter Alexander Armstrong, the series encourages children to be active, curious, helpful, cooperative, and imaginative. The Squirrels usually earn a badge after completing their challenge and celebrate with a famous Duggee Hug.

Families can explore more titles through the official Hey Duggee book collection.

Who Should Read The Tooth Brushing Badge?

This book is suitable for:

• Children from approximately two years old
• Young Hey Duggee fans
• Toddlers beginning a tooth-brushing routine
• Children who enjoy songs and repeated phrases
• Families creating morning and bedtime routines
• Nurseries and preschool settings
• Parents looking for personal-care stories
• Anyone searching for a useful toddler gift

These publication details are confirmed by the official Penguin UK listing.

Book Links

View the official publication information:
Hey Duggee: The Tooth Brushing Badge – Penguin UK

Explore more books in the series:
Hey Duggee Book Collection – Penguin UK

Brush, Sing and Earn a Badge

Hey Duggee: The Tooth Brushing Badge turns a familiar personal-care routine into a funny and encouraging Squirrel Club adventure. Children can meet the lion, learn the two-minute song, practise the brushing action, and celebrate their success with an imaginary badge.

With its sturdy pages, familiar characters, gentle humour, and useful routine-based message, this delightful board book is a valuable addition to a young child’s morning or bedtime reading collection. Ah-woof!