Learning Partners -- Let's Be Healthy!

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U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement

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Following good health practices will help children be ready to learn:

• Pick 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.

• Check on the food programs at your school and ask for improvement if you think it is needed.

• 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 shots your child has already had.

• Encourage your child to exercise: jogging, walking, jumping rope, bicycling, roller-skating, dancing, 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.

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Healthy Activities

Brushhh

for young children 2--5 years old

1. When it is time for your children to brush their teeth, sing a silly song together about tooth brushing. For example:

   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!
   

2. Make sound effects: "ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM or VROOM, VROOM, VROOM," while you watch them brush.

3. Have your children give their teeth names, and use these names when you talk about them."Now don't forget Cutters, Doggies, and Chompers!"

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.

4. Title the poster, "Things I Do Not Share."

5. Have your child collect pictures of things that it is safe to share with others.

6. 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

3. Meat Group - pork, steak, beef, beans

4. Fruit Group - apples, oranges, tangerines, cantelopes

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 (Kix, Cheerios, Chex), 2 cups of pretzels, and 2 cups of raisins in a mixing bowl.

2. Eat as a between meal snack.

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Resources

U.S. Department of Education
Richard W. Riley
Secretary

Office of Educational Research and Improvement
Sharon P. Robinson
Assistant Secretary

National Institute on Student Achievement, Curriculum, and Assessment
National Institute on the Education of At-Risk Students

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