Healthy Body! Healthy Me!

Hi! It's Carolyn from Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and beautiful New Year.  We're all going to have a great year!

I love to start the New Year teaching the children all about staying healthy.

I wanted to share this Healthy Body! Healthy Me! packet Dr. Jean and I created. It is a COMPLETE primary healthy program perfect for K-2.  The packet includes 2 Prezis with LOTS of videos- songs, stories, and anchor charts; activities; writing prompts; anchor charts; and lesson plans.  You are all set for Health with this unit! These are all of the activities and lessons I use, and my students always love them and have so much fun.

The packet covers the skeletal, muscular, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and excretory systems with fun, memorable activities to go along with each one.

I have made Vita-men with my kids for years.  I just love them- and when the vitamin benefits are turned into people the children really seem to remember them!

I love teaching the children all about blood, because it's always something they like to learn about. 

There is an activity for each part of the blood.  This is an example of the Platelet Activity.

After the systems are covered, the packet includes two Watch Me Grow activities that you can use throughout the year with your students.  And a Healthy Habits section which includes activities to teach children about staying clean, getting rid of germs, teeth care, bedtime habits, safe foods, safety of all kinds, being kind, and feelings. Here are some samples:

I always do this activity in September and then right before our Open House in spring so I can hang it up to show the parents.  I put a photo in the smaller rectangle, and the children draw themselves in the larger one.

This goes with the hand washing/germ activity.  The kids love this one!  There are lots of healthy habit activities!

Safe and Not Safe Foods

We cover all areas of "STREAM" which is "STEM with reading and art added in- as well as writing prompts!

This packet has two comprehensive Prezis with videos for each topic to teach and reinforce lessons. These are so much fun to use during those extra minutes you have each day- or as a lesson on its own!

This part of the Prezi is great for talking about emotions. I also use this when I'm teaching the children about adding details and feelings in their writing.

This part of the Prezi helps teach the children ALL about safety in different situations. 

We watch these videos a lot as reminders...

This is the second Prezi- full of our favorite shake breaks. 

The packet also includes Dr. Jean's songs Feeling Fine and Macarena Bones.  You'll hear your students singing these songs over and over.  They don't even realize all they're learning as they sing!

I hope you enjoy this packet and these ideas as much as we do and as much as we enjoyed putting it all together!

Have fun staying healthy!

Sanitizing Toys and Materials In Preschool

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Sanitizing toys and materials in preschool is important...and it is different than cleaning or disinfecting toys.  Know the difference and reduce the risk of flu and illness in your program.

Each year (and each week), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) posts their Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report.  

This report shows data regarding the movement and spread of the flu.  

In week 51 of 2014 (week ending December 20, 2014), for example, the flu reached what was considered the epidemic threshold.

The past several years have shown high levels of flu activity in December:  the level of activity that we used to see earlier in the season.  Because the flu is spread through sneezing and coughing, spaces where people are together hold a higher risk of spreading the flu as well as other illnesses.

This means.......mhmmmm......our preschool programs and our homes.

Preschoolers Are Learning To Share Everything-
Including Germs!

Preschoolers are adorable.  They are typically caring, lovable and learning to share.......EVERYTHING!

They are learning to share toys, hugs and kisses as well as coughs and sneezes--all of which include sharing germs.

Remember that awesome ice cream sundae the children made in dramatic play?  

Remember that it looked so delicious they forgot it was pretend and actually put the spoon in their mouth?

Remember those blocks they used to build an awesome house with?  It seemed all of your little construction workers were sneezing a symphony while building. 

It is your job to keep the germs at a minimum in your classroom.  Germs are shared through coughing, sneezing and drooling!  

I HIGHLY recommend a "Wash Me" bin for every classroom!  

Any toys that were mouthed, sneezed or drooled on goes in it throughout the day.

Sanitizing toys in the Wash Me bin daily will help reduce the spread of germs.

Cleaning, Disinfecting & Sanitizing Toys In Preschool

When did you last spend time cleaning, disinfecting or sanitizing toys and materials in your classroom?

Before any of us can answer this question we need to be clear on the difference between the three terms.

CLEANING Toys In Preschool

The Process:

Cleaning refers to any process that removes visible dirt, debris, food, etc. from a toy.  

You do this by washing or scrubbing the toy or area and rinsing it off.

The Purpose:  

The purpose of cleaning is to remove dirt and debris.

However, cleaning does NOT kill germs.  To kill germs, you need to sanitize preschool toys.

This is typically what we do to the tables and chairs, the dishes and items in dramatic play or even the baby dolls.  

You might sometimes place all the toy cars in a bucket of soapy water....swish them, give them a quick wipe down and rinse.

SANITIZING Toys In Preschool

The Process:  

Sanitizing refers to treating or cleaning with a product that kills at least 99.9% of germs.

You do this by using a product that lists on the label that it kills germs.  Many times you might wash the table and chairs and then follow up by sanitizing.

The Purpose:  

The purpose of sanitizing is to kill bacterial germs or contaminants with the goal of reducing the number of them on the toys or materials.  

Cleaning and sanitizing preschool toys are not (separately or combined) considered disinfecting!

DISINFECTING Toys In Preschool

The Process:  

Disinfecting refers to treating or cleaning with a product that is listed to kill 100% of the germs listed on the product's label.

The Purpose:  

The purpose of disinfecting is to kill pathogens that may be on products.

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A Little Diversion...

Wow!  Really?!!  YES!  Really!  I found this on Pinterest.  

Well, coffee beans work to dilute the smell of overwhelm in candle stores, why not for this?  

A teacher told me to be sure to scoop it with your dustpan and don't use your vacuum... for the obvious, long-term, smelly reasons! 

_______________________________________________________________________________

So, Which Process Should Be Done?  And When?

It will depend upon the toy, material or area.  Also, check your state regulations.  Some states specifically list the products approved for child care settings,

Below is a simple chart to give you some guidance.  

It is important to stay on top of cleaning and sanitizing preschool toys to reduce the risk of the spread of illness in your program.

Below are the bleach to water ratio for Clorox Bleach solutions for sanitizing and disinfecting.

We make a bleach/water solution in a 1 quart spray bottle like this one.

It is a plastic, spray bottle. What I like about this one is that it is heavy duty and chemical resistant.

Cheap spray bottles will deteriorate after a while and the sprayer will stop working. This one lasts much longer for us.

To make the bleach/water solution:  Mix 2 tablespoons of bleach with 1 quart of water in the spray bottle.  

To disinfect toys:  Use ½ cup of bleach per gallon of water.

To disinfect food contact surfaces:    A weaker solution is needed: Use 2 teaspoons bleach per gallon of water.

IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT SANITIZING TOYS:

It is imperative that you do the following with your bleach/water spray bottle:

1.  Mark It.

Mark the name of the contents of the bottle with a permanent marker.  Mark it Bleach & Water.

2.  One Bottle-One Purpose.

NEVER, EVER use this bottle for anything else except for bleach and water solutions in the future.
If you make a mix using a different chemical, use a different spray bottle.
Some chemicals, when mixed, are TOXIC and DANGEROUS.  Don't take a chance.

3.  Fresh Daily.
Make a fresh batch of your bleach/water solution every day.

It will be very tempting for you to use the same bottle for a few days.
It may seem like a "waste" to empty it out each day.

However, if you do not make it fresh, you are only going through the motions of disinfecting and sanitizing preschool toys and materials and THAT is a waste of your time and defeating the very purpose of making the solution to begin with.

Bleach, once mixed with water, loses its effectiveness and breaks down in 24 hours.  So, even though the bleach smells strong the next day, it is NOT strong.  Make it a point to pour it out at the end of each day.

4.  Out of Reach.

Of course, this solution must be out of reach of the children at all times.  

Other Solution Options

Some centers use commercial disinfectants that are EPA approved. 

An effective and popular one is Diversey Alpha-HP Multi-Surface Disinfectant Cleaner.
It has a light, citrus scent. It comes 2 in a case (each one being a 1.5L Spray Bottle).

It is important, however, to check with your director and/or state licensing agency to confirm that this, or any other product, is approved.

A Schedule for Sanitizing Toys In Preschool

Below is a suggested schedule of when to clean the main items and areas in your classroom.

Sanitizing Toys Summary:

Cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing preschool toys are an important task we need to do on an intentional schedule.  

Put a process into place, if you don't already have one, to stay on top of this process.  

It will reduce the risk of flu and illness in your program.

Sources:  CDC

                NAEYC

                NRCKids

About the author

Cheryl Hatch has taught and directed preschool programs for over 20 years.  She is the Creator and Owner of Preschool Plan It, a website dedicated to sharing preschool themes, activities, articles and training with early childhood educators.  She volunteers as the coordinator and teacher of the MOPPETS program in her town (a preschool program for the M.O.P.S.--Mothers of Preschoolers Program).  She has her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education.  Cheryl has been an active, integral member and leader within the Teachers.Net Early Childhood community for many years, moderating live chats and providing peer support on the Preschool Teachers Chatboard.  You can read Cheryl’s articles, activities and themed preschool lesson plans at www.preschool-plan-it.com 

10 Ways To Help Children Enjoy Dental Health

Hi! I'm Ayn and I am a Ga. Pre-K teacher, serving 4 and 5 year olds in an inclusive setting. I share my classroom adventures on my blog, little illuminations.

Did you know February is Dental Health month? It's a great time to help kids get familiar with dental visits and dental routines. Many children are afraid of going to the dentist. One of the best ways to alleviate a child's fear of the dentist is to help them learn about visiting the dentist and what to expect. Today I'm sharing some ways to help children learn about dental health/hygiene AND ways to make the learning fun!

1. Get a fun toothbrush and tasty toothpaste and let your child help pick them out! There are lots of fun toothbrushes for children these days. Some light up, some play music, you can personalize or decorate some or get one with a popular character on it. 
   Now, let's talk toothpaste. I'm going to get personal for just a minute and let you in on a little family secret here. I have a teenager with special needs. She had a horrible smile. Her teeth were crooked, her smile was misshapen and she had a yellow tinge (common in our family). We found a local dentist that had a scholarship program that would provide dental and orthodontic work that we never could have afforded. Her smile was fodder for the bullies that plagued her every day. We applied and got the scholarship. Fast forward a couple of years and the braces are off and she has an absolutely beautiful smile!!!! Here's the tricky part---she wouldn't brush her teeth. After all this work, we were nagging and cajoling her morning and night to brush. She would "forget" more often than not. Recently, we've discovered a big part of the problem---toothpaste!!! She was using regular adult paste and with her food/sensory issues, the minty taste really bothered her. I mean REALLY, REALLY bothered her. So we went back to children's toothpaste with kid friendly flavors and she's brushing regularly again. If using bubblegum paste makes the difference between brushing and not brushing, we'll do what we have to. 

image courtesy of Amazon.com

2. Use a tooth brushing chart to remind kids about brushing and help set some goals. Help your kids get in the habit of brushing at least twice a day. Using a tooth brushing chart helps provide a visual reminder for kids until the habits become second nature. There is a great chart on my blog, little illuminations sent to me by "Love Your Teeth". Click here for the link. It can be personalized and is printable. Teachers---you can enter in a class list and print one for each student! 

3. Read some fun books about teeth and dental health! There are tons of great books out there, but I'll share some of my favorites below!






4. Play games! Honestly, most of the games we've played this week accented our math skills but had a dental theme. That's okay! 
  I printed out a coloring page of a toothy smile and laminated it. The kids roll a die and color in cavities on the appropriate number of teeth. At the end of the game, we compare the number of cavities, then brush them all away!

I have a board game, courtesy of Colgate's Bright Smiles Bright Futures program. I don't know if they still send out kits to classes, but the board game has lasted several years and is a fun little game. You could also easily make a game board with a file folder and colored dots. 

5. Identify "tooth friendly" foods/drinks and foods/drinks that aren't healthy for teeth. Yesterday, I let the kids get some cutting practice in by cutting out some pictures of food and pasting them on paper. (recycled women's magazines and grocery store sale flyers are EXCELLENT for this!)  I really didn't give them any guidelines---I just instructed them to cut out any food pictures they wanted. 

I made 2 giant tooth cut outs, one with a smile and one with a frown. I explained that the tooth with the happy face was for healthy foods and the sad face was for junk food and sweets.

 I asked the children if they thought they had healthy foods to sit down by the tooth with the smile and if they had junk foods or sweets to sit by the sad tooth. We then looked at each student's picture and talked about why they sat where they did. If, after discussion they were by the wrong tooth, we encouraged them to find the right tooth and sit beside it. 

Later, we posted the pictures on or near the right tooth and displayed them on our classroom wall.

6. Explore the damage soda, tea, coffee and sugar drinks do to our teeth by experimenting on hard boiled eggs. Soak each egg in a different drink and observe after several hours or overnight. For additional investigation, have students use a toothbrush to try and clean the stains off the egg. This hands-on experiment really helps them see the damage done.

7. Talk about the tools used in proper dental health. We examined and explored toothbrushes and floss. We explored how to use them properly.

We played a little simulation, using the children as teeth and a jump rope for the floss. I then "flossed" between the children!

Later, use toothbrushes and dental floss to make art! (Sorry, no pics for this one.) Use the toothbrushes as paintbrushes. Drag the floss through the paint like you would with string art. These turn out wonderfully creative and unique!  (If I am able to get a few shots later, I'll try to add them!)

8. Make a giant mouth and count out marshmallows, packing peanuts or cotton balls to make the teeth.

Or, use playdough to make a mouth and place beans to make teeth!

9. Set up a mock dental office. This is a favorite center to explore every year!!! I don't have any specific "dental tools", just items pilfered from a toy doctor kit, a few toothbrushes, rubber gloves and dribble bibs made from napkins or paper towels clipped to string with clothes pins. 

The reception and waiting area is also a very popular place to play. the kids make appointments, type on an old keyboard and answer the phone while others  thumb through magazines while waiting their turn for dental work!

10. Visit and tour a children's dentist BEFORE your first appointment. Knowing what to expect goes a long way in alleviating a child's fears. Many of the children's dentists really make the appointments fun and this helps the  children get excited about going to the dentist! We have FABULOUS children's dentist in our area that really goes all out for our visits. After touring the work areas, the children are given a dental health lesson from the Tooth Fairy. 

The Tooth Fairy also visits our younger students in the school to talk about dental health, as well!  

Before we visit, we always talk about what the kids think a dentist does. They can compare their answers with their observations after the visit. It may also give an indication if there are unfounded fears or misconceptions that are easily cleared up.

As a child, I had several very bad experiences at the dentist. My hope is that by making dental visits and hygiene fun, my students will look forward to visiting the dentist and perform proper oral health habits. No child should ever fear or dread the dentist the way I always have. I hope some of these ideas are of help to your little ones, too!

Stop by and visit me anytime at littleilluminations.blogspot.com or visit the little illuminations fanpage on facebook! And be sure to check out PreK+K Sharing EEE!