Learning the Healthy Way for Children

Good health comes from good habits and wise choices. To enjoy good health now and in the future, youngsters must learn how to exercise, control stress, be clean, and reduce the risk of disease. They must get into the habit of eating nutritious foods, having plenty of sleep, and understanding the interaction between physical and emotional health. Children also need to know what to do in an emergency and when to say “No” When children are healthy they will probably do well in school.

Children should learn the following:

Eat nutritious foods and limit sugary snacks and fatty foods, particularly before meals. Set a good example by eating healthy foods, too.
Have your child start the day by eating a healthy breakfast at home or at school.
Teach your child how to stop the spread of germs by keeping clean and washing hands before meals.
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 exercise. Jogging, walking, skipping rope, bicycling, roller–skating, 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

Brushing

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!

Make sound effects: “ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM or VROOM, VROOM, VROOM,” while you watch them brush.
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.

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

Food Pyramid (for children of all ages)

Playing Children

It is important that children eat healthy foods. Some of the foods are:

Milk Group: cheese, butter, ice cream, yogurt.
Vegetable Group: broccoli, lettuce, spinach, carrots, beans.
Meat Group: pork, chicken, steak, beef.
Fruit Group: apples, oranges, papaya, mangoes, banana.
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”.

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

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