The letter H starts several strategies for getting children ready to start school, including health and hygiene. Children need to learn a great deal of independence and self-care skills to be able to cope with personal issues when they are in a large group for such a big part of the day. Practice is easier when it’s fun. The children’s entertainer Raffi has a silly song for brushing teeth called Brush Your Teeth, “And if you wake up in the morning and it’s quarter to one, you want to have a little fun, you brush your teeth….” (Two or three videos of this song can be found on Youtube.) He changes the brush your teeth part to wash your face, comb your hair and even stroke your beard!! Kids love the silliness.
Not having Raffi’s musical talents, I just use a familiar song and change the words. Mulberry Bush works as in:
This is the way we– brush our teeth, wash our hands, comb our hair, wash our face, put on our clothes, etc.
London Bridge can also be used: I wash my hands with soap and water, saop and water, soap and water, etc.
Sesame Street has a whole series of books on Happy, Healthy Monsters for eating healthy meals, exercising and more. What challenges are you finding in helping your children develop healthy habits?