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I Am Amazing

Health education activities in the early childhood setting are fun--for the caregiver and for the children--and help put in place healthy habits that last a lifetime! Here are some activities from I Am Amazing, a program that has hundreds of activities all centered on the child's total well being. Through these experiences, young children learn about health concepts and also develop independent thinking, problem solving, decision making, cooperation, communication, and motor skills.

I Am Amazing has nine units: My Amazing Body, My Five Senses, Amazing Me, Our Families and Friends, My Feelings and Yours, Healthy Habits, Healthy Foods, Safety First, and Safe At Home.

Activities listed here are from the Healthy Habits unit.

HEALTHY HABITS UNIT GOAL

To help children develop healthy habits as part of their daily routine and begin to understand that when their body is healthy, they also feel good about themselves.

In The Creative Arts Center: MUD SOAP

Purpose: Creating a fingerprint design and practicing hand washing techniques.

Materials: Mud soap (see preparation); 4 cafeteria trays.

Preparation: Mix 1 cup dry mild laundry soap (not detergent), 1/4 cup water, and three drops each of red, yellow, and blue food coloring. This makes a little over a cup of dry soap.

Safety Note: Be certain to use laundry soap rather than detergent, because concentrated amounts of detergent can burn skin, especially if a child has sensitive skin.

Activity: Put one scoop of mud soap on each tray. Let children create designs on the trays and discover how easy it is to clean their hands when they are finished. Encourage them to talk with each other about their finger paintings and about how the mud soap looks and feels. After the children have finished, have them wash off the trays for others to use.

In The Dramatic Play Center: BEDTIME

Purpose: Practicing a bedtime routine, taking on the role of caring adult, socializing with peers, resolving conflicts, and thinking creatively during play.

Suggested Equipment: Cots or mats; blankets; pillows; pajamas that will fit over clothes; stuffed toys; story books; soft music; audio cassette recorder or record player.

Activity: When introducing this activity, talk about how bedtime can be a happy experience that allows children to relax, look at books or listen to music, share time with an adult, or get comfortable with a stuffed animal.

Children can play the roles of adults and children at bedtime, pretending to brush their teeth and wash their hands and face, getting dressed for bed, reading stories, and listening to music.

For more information on I Am Amazing, contact the Healthy Child Publications, 877-258-6178.