Give kids healthy strawberry smoothies instead of ice cream.
Get kids' attention by hosting an activity-oriented children's health fair. Most kids learn best by participating in hands-on activities. Set up many stations and booths where kids can learn about CPR, the importance of nutrition, babysitting tricks and what to do if a stranger approaches them. A station sure to be a hit is a CSI station where kids can be fingerprinted and have DNA swabs taken.
Hand Washing
United Health Care's Health Care Planning Guide on the School District of Palm Beach County's site suggests demonstrating the importance of hand washing by having one person at the booth put glitter on her hands. When people come to the table, she should shake hands with them. Then, she should tell them to look at the "germs" on their hands. The glitter shows people while the booth attendant explains how germs spread and the importance of washing hands. She should then give soap and water to wash their hands to get rid of the germs. She can hand out hand sanitizer wipes and tell people that when soap and water is unavailable it is OK to use hand sanitizer.
Bicycle Safety
Play a video about bicycle safety. Then, invite the public to attempt riding through the bicycle safety course. Referees will ensure the participants use the correct hand signals, wear safety gear properly, walk their bikes across the "street" and obey the street signs. As participants travel through the course, take a picture and print it out for them to take home as a reminder to be safe bike riders.
Yoga
Invite kids to participate in a yoga session. Explain that yoga is a way for kids to relax and get away from the many pressures they face everyday from homework and other activities. Demonstrate a few poses, and help the kids mimic the poses. Tell kids what the pose means and how it can help them. Give them an illustrated pamphlet with several poses so that they can recreate them in the privacy of their homes.
Scavenger Hunt
The Texas A&M Extension offers a list of questions that you can use in a scavenger hunt. The list of questions forces participants to visit the different booths at the health fair to find answers. The questions must be simple so that kids stay interested in the hunt. At the end of the hunt, give them a small bag with a flashing light, safety sticker and sugar-free lollipop.
Nutrition
Print out copies of the food pyramid and worksheets offered by the United States Department of Agriculture that allow kids to compare the food they eat with government recommendations. Give them pencils and samples of different healthy alternatives to junk food.
Tags: bicycle safety, Give them, hand sanitizer, Health Care, health fair, kids learn
