Good health comes from good habits and wise choices. To enjoy the fruits of good health now and in the future, youngsters must understand the importance of exercise, stress- control & hygiene, which will therefore reduce the risk of contracting diseases. They must get into healthy diet habits, getting plenty of sleep and understand the relation between physical & mental health. Children also need to know what to do in an emergency and when to say “No” When children are physically fit they will probably do well in school as well.

Children should learn the following:

• Set a nutritious diet pattern and limit intake of snacks with high sugar content, particularly before meals. Set a good example for the children, by doing the same yourself.
• Let your child start the day by eating a healthy breakfast either at home or at school.
• Teach your child how to stop the spread of germs by maintaining basic hygiene like washing hands before meals, covering mouth & nose while sneezing, etc.
• Make sure your child is vaccinated against disease at the right age. Keep a chart of the vaccines your child has already had.
• Encourage your child to undertake atleast one of the many forms of exercise like jogging, walking, skipping rope, bicycling, roller-skating and swimming.
• Teach your child how to handle stress through exercise, getting enough sleep, discussing problems, and breaking jobs down into small parts.
• Teach your child how to protect him/herself by saying “No”, walking away from fights, or talking about dangerous situations.

Healthy activities
Brush (for young children 2–5 years old)
When it is time for your children to brush their teeth, sing a song together about tooth brushing.
For example: Brushing
This is the way we brush our teeth, Brush our teeth, Brush our teeth. This is the way we brush our teeth, So early in the morning!

1. Make sound effects: “ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM or VROOM, VROOM, VROOM,” while you watch them brush.
2. Have your children give their teeth names, and use these names when you talk about them.

To Share or Not to Share (for children pre–school–2nd grade)
Help your child understand that there are some personal things that we don’t share because they can spread germs and disease.

1. Have your child collect pictures of a toothbrush, cup, comb, hairbrush, and spoon.
2. Ask your child to paste the pictures on a large piece of paper.
3. With a crayon, pencil, or marker, have your child put an X or\through each picture. Title the poster, “Things I Do Not Share”.
4. Have your child collect pictures of things that it is safe to share with others.
5. Use these pictures to make a poster with the title, “Things I Can Share”.

Food Pyramid (for children of all ages)
It is important that children eat healthy foods. Some of the foods are:

1. Milk Group: cheese, butter, ice cream, yogurt.
2. Vegetable Group: broccoli, lettuce, spinach, carrots, beans.
3. Meat Group: pork, chicken, steak, beef.
4. Fruit Group: apples, oranges, papaya, mangoes, banana.
5. Bread Group: rolls, cereal, crackers, pasta.

Sticks & Stones Snacks (for school–aged children to make for everyone to eat)
Each day, your child should eat foods from the 5 major food groups. bread, vegetable, fruit, milk, and meat. This snack covers “Breads” and “Fruit”.

1. Mix 4 cups of low sugar cereal and 2 cups of raisins in a mixing bowl.
2. Eat as a between meal snack.