1. Chapter 12: Health and Wellness
Teaching Young Children
Fifth Edition
Michael L. Henniger
Developed by:
Kaye A. Marshall
Mt. Baker School District and Whatcom Community College

2. Goals: Chapter 12 Learn about the importance of health and wellness
Study the role of physical education
Investigate health education and its importance
Gain insights into safety education

3. The Importance of Health and Wellness
Physical education and its importance
Physical development and social skills
Motor skills and emotions
Connections to cognitive development
Creating an integrated curriculum
Increased emphasis on physical fitness
Reduce health risks
Increase activity levels

4. Health and Wellness: Health
The values of health education
Rapid rise in childhood obesity
Ages 2-5, doubled since 1976
Ages 6-11, from 6.5% to 19.6%
Nutrition
Medical and dental health
Healthy body image
Illness prevention

5. Health and Wellness: Safety
Safety education and young children
Safety/security – 2 most basic needs (Maslow, 1968)
Environmental risks
Indoor and outdoor environments
Accidents
Child abuse and neglect

6. Health and Wellness: Families
Working with families
Children spend more time at home
Children absorb values/attitudes at home
To effect long-term change, support is needed from families
Nutrition
Physical activity
Safety

7. Physical Education Basic considerations
Create time daily for play-oriented and adult-directed movement activities
Plan indoor and outdoor activities
Make sure all children get involved
Evaluate your responses for gender equity
Identify your expectations for motor development

8. Physical Education: Basics, cont.
Establish clear rules
Identify boundaries
Integrate physical activities into all aspects of the curriculum
Carefully observe children
Use developmentally appropriate materials/equipment
Provide repeated opportunities for practice

9. Physical Education: Strategies
Instructional strategies
Direct approach
Describe, model, imitate
Guided discovery
Child-centered, invent/experiment
Exploration
Divergent problem solving

10. Physical Education: Play
Physical development and play
Select play equipment to stimulate skills
Gross motor: climber, large balls, wheeled toys, tumbling mats
Fine motor: small blocks, crayons, legos
Perceptual-motor: rhythm instruments, dance scarves, pattern blocks

11. Physical Education: Activities
Organized physical activities
Introduce during preschool/primary years
Should be fun, include specific skill guidance, and allow many opportunities to practice
Throwing, catching, striking
Kicking, balancing, jumping
Spatial awareness, fitness

12. Physical Education: Indoors
Games and activities
Magical marching
Bunny hop
Quick, freeze!
Hit the bull’s-eye
Finger frolics
Catch me if you can
Balancing circus

13. Physical Education: Outdoors
Games and activities
Rough-and-tumble play
Organized activities
Competition and young children
Noncompetitive/cooperative game options
Fish gobbler Non-elimination musical chairs
Tug of peace Roadrunner
Bumblebee Mountain climbing
La piñata Traffic jam
Parachute play

14. Health Education Nutrition Provide healthy nutritious choices
Plan cooking experiences
Model good nutrition
Communicate often with families
Provide resources

15. Health Education: Body Image
Healthy body image
Teach respect and care for one’s body
Young bodies continue to change and grow
There is no one ideal body type
Be careful with the language you use
Emphasize each child’s abilities and positive personality traits

16. Health Education: Medical/Dental
Medical and dental health
Provide vision, hearing, and speech screening
Carefully observe children
Illnesses
Identify early and prevent spread of childhood illnesses
Promote personal hygiene/handwashing

17. Health Education: Adults
Healthy adults: as a significant role model
Eat healthy foods
Exercise regularly
Discuss your own body type – focus on the positive
Talk about strategies you use to stay healthy

18. Safety Education Environmental risks Be aware of custody issues
Falls, burns, poisons, small or sharp objects, suffocation, traffic hazards
Be aware of custody issues
Reasonable risks are considered a healthy part of growing up

19. Safety Education: Prevention
Accident prevention
Water safety
Infants/toddlers
Preschool/primary
Fire safety
Talk with children and families
Firearm safety
24% of all households have firearms
(Forbis, et. al, 2007)

20. Safety Education: Abuse/Neglect
Child Abuse and Treatment Act, 1974
Reauthorized, 2003
Mandated reporting
Neglect: failure of family to meet basic needs of child – adequate food, shelter, or medical care
59% of total reports were for neglect

21. Safety Education: Abuse/Neglect, cont.
Physical abuse: purposeful injury – bruises, broken bones, burning (10% of reports)
Sexual abuse: adult uses child for sexual pleasure of any type, or exposes child to others in sexually explicit way (8%)
Emotional or psychological abuse: child’s emotional development or self-worth is impaired by the behavior of adults (4%)

22. Summary The Importance of Health and Wellness Physical Education
Health Education
Safety Education