Building the Foundation: Peace and Conflict Education in Early Childhood Development Programs in Partnership with PenMedia Module 5: Healthy Me, Healthy Us! Pilot Version May 2011

Learning Objectives Describe the importance of health for pre- school children Know three of the most important health behavior habits for preschool children to promote good health List three health threats that children can face and one action that children can take to avoid each threat

Importance of Health for Education Healthy children are more likely to be able to concentrate on educational activities and benefit from them Healthy children are more likely to attend school and participate in educational activities Some health problems are associated with learning problems – for example, exposure to pesticides and lead paint The school provides a good forum for teaching children about healthy lifestyle and specific health practices

HEALTHY ME, HEALTHY YOU, HEALTHY HABITS Exercise Eating Sleep

Keeping Active, Moving Together! Look at me, look at you, look at what we can do! Dance, dance! Run, run! We can jump, we can hop, we can twist, we can stop! We can tap, we can clap We can sit, we can rest, we can do our very best We can whisper, we can breath, we can smile and then… We can start to move all over again!

Healthy Eating! Healthy eating habits start when children are very young, so it is important to help to make certain they begin these habits now! Natural foods are the healthiest – processed foods often have too much sugar and too much salt and some have chemicals to which children may be allergic Fresh produce is best – so it’s important for children to learn what is available in their region of Palestine and when the fruits and vegetables are in season

Promoting Healthy Eating

Healthy Sleep To develop well, children must have adequate sleep. Children 3-6 years of age need hours of sleep every 24 hours. Three-year-olds still need naps, but by 5, most children sleep only at night.

HEALTHY CHILDREN Ears Eyes Mouths & Teeth Skin

HEARING: THE EAR IS HERE! Why is hearing important, what does it help us to do? What parts of the body help us to hear? What are your favorite sounds? Why? What are your least favorite sounds? Why? How can you take care of your ears?

SEEING: THE EYES HAVE IT! Our eyes are for exploring and observing the world around us It is important to protect our eyes—how do we do this? How inventions such as glasses help some of us to see It is important to have our eyes examined –to keep them healthy!

KEEPING MY MOUTH AND TEETH HEALTHY What are cavities and tooth decay? What foods can cause problems with teeth? What can a child do to keep his or her mouth healthy? Why it is important to visit a dentist regularly?

KEEPING HEALTHY: SKIN How does children’s skin protect them? How can children protect their skin? What threats are there to the skin’s protective capacity, and how can these threats be minimized in children?

KEEPING HEALTHY: MY SKIN What are the main kinds of injuries that happen to skin? How do injuries to the skin heal? What happens if such injuries aren’t cared for?

THREATS TO CHILDREN’S HEALTH Injuries -- at home -- in cars Illnesses -- diarrhea -- respiratory problems

KEEPING SAFE— FROM INJURIES Where do most injuries happen to children? What are the most common injuries for children? How can we prevent these injuries?

KEEPING SAFE– FROM POISINS AND PESTICIDES What are some common poisons? What are pesticides? Can pesticides make us sick? What can I do to protect myself from pesticides?

KEEPING SAFE—FROM GERMS What are germs? How do things we can’t see make us sick? Where are germs found? What can we do to keep germs from hurting us?

KEEPING SAFE FROM GERMS: WHAT CHILDREN CAN DO Wash hands often Wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds Don’t put items that are dirty or have been on a dirty surface into their mouths Keep their hands out of their mouths

KEEPING SAFE FROM DIARRHEA AND RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS What causes these? How are they prevented? How are they treated?

Keeping Healthy in Mind and in Body It is important to pay attention to the mental health of young children as well as to their physical health. The signs and symptoms they may exhibit are different from those of adults. It is important for you to learn some of the basic signs of possible mental health problems in children so that you can know what is behavior that may be expected when it is necessary refer children for care and how to do so.

DOCTORS AND NURSES CARE FOR CHILDREN

KEEPING HEALTHY: DOCTORS AND NURSES CAN HELP! It is important to see a doctor or nurse often to make certain that you are healthy – your parents will take you there Vaccines help us to stay healthy – they may sting just a little bit but it is very fast and you will get a big smile from your parents and the doctor and nurse when you have taken the vaccine. It helps you to stay healthy, and other children and adults too, because it helps to make certain that sicknesses don’t spread from one person to another.