How to Make Brushing Your Teeth Fun

"Did you brush your teeth?" your parents ask. "Eh, um I forgot.." you answer. Brushing your teeth isn't always fun, but with these methods and a little bit of willpower, you can make brushing your teeth as fun as... well, whatever you think is fun.

Steps:

+ Customize your toothbrush.

Add some stickers, paper, ribbon, whatever floats your boat. Maybe you can even add glow stickers, glitter, texture, etc.

+ Brush to the tune.

Have some music playing (maybe on an iPod) and brush to the beat. This is very amusing and can grow your musical skills.

+ Count to 100.

This is not only easy, but it passes time very quickly.

+ Use fun or yummy toothpaste.

There are many different colors and flavors that can fun-up the brushing experience. You can also make your own toothpaste.

+ Draw while you are.

brushing your teeth. Hold the toothbrush with one hand and draw with the other. This can be a bit messy if you are not careful, but it improves your skills in multitasking.

+ Dance while you brush.

You can play some music and dance to it, while brushing your teeth at the same time. This may seem silly, but it can also be fun.

+ Make a fun chart for.

the activities that you do when you brush your teeth. Put the time and the activity you are doing. For example, you could put, "Monday, 8:00, dancing to classical music, Tuesday, 8:00, drawing," etc.

+ If you have a sibling, start a contest to see who can make the most fun toothbrush.

You can even start a "toothbrush song" contest, if you want.

+ Have willpower.

Just a little bit goes a long way.

Tips:

* Reward yourself every successful week of teeth-brushing.

* Invent new ways of making brushing your teeth fun!

 

Warnings:

Don't be too distracted by the fun; be sure to maintain focus on brushing your teeth and avoid swallowing the toothpaste.

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How to Avoid Anemia in Children

Anemia is caused by iron deficiency in the blood. When there isn’t enough iron in the blood, a person will feel exhausted because the ability to carry oxygen through the body is reduced.

Steps :

 

 

 Have a bit of honey every day. 

Consuming a little bit of honey in warm water on a daily basis raises the red blood cell count. However, children below a year of age should not be given honey.

 

Check with your doctor. 

For children between a year and five years of age, doctors may, if needed, prescribe a tablet of elemental iron and folate (IFA).

Do not give your infant cow's milk in the first year of life.

 Cow's milk is a common cause of iron deficiency in infants. Iron is absorbed 3 times better when it is in breast milk.

Give worm treatment. 

Worm infestations are common causes of anaemia. make sure to prevent such infections by practicing good health habits as well as seeking treatment if you suspect one.

Tips :  

 

   Common symptoms of anemia include blue-tinged or very pale whites of eyes, blood in the stools, brittle nails, decreased appetite, fatigue, headache, irritability, pale skin color, shortness of breath, sore tongue, unusual food cravings (called pica) and weakness. No symptoms may be present if anemia is mild. 

 Warnings :

. Keep all iron-containing products out of your child's reach. They can be poisonous when taken in very large amounts.

. Always get a physician's advice before giving your child any medicines or medical supplements, including when you wish to change dosage.

 

 

 

 

 

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imaginary frolic Fun Children's Books That teach Healthy Eating Habits

I write books for adults, but I confess, children's books are my absolute favorite book genre. In fact, one of my favorite things about having a child is I now have an excuse to build a ridiculously large kid's book library.


Books open up new worlds to both kids and adults, spark the imagination and inspire adventure. Which is why books are so wonderful for encouraging healthy eating habits in our students and children. These 11 books for elementary-aged students are funny, entertaining, moving, or just plain silly...but they also get kids to open their minds to a broader, healthier view on eating.  

books 

 The Peanut Pickle
by Jessica Jacobs
Part of healthy eating is understanding that not every body is the same. Some "healthy" foods can be very harmful to those with allergies or food sensitivities. Because so many classrooms are now Nut-Free zones, I included in this list this cute story about a boy with peanut allergies. Told in a playful way, students will understand the severity of allergies while also seeing kids in the class with allergies as normal peers. 

 The Seven Silly Eaters
by Mary Ann Hoberman

A book about picky eaters and problem solving. According to The School Library Journal it's "...both hilarious and satisfying," and "could add humor to classroom units on nutrition..."

 Gregory, the Terrible Eater
by Mitchell Sharmat

Gregory is a goat who loves fruits, vegetables, eggs and fish, rather than typical goat fair of tires, cans, and t-shirts. Kids will find it hilarious that Gregory's parents don't want him to eat his fruits and veggies and instead want him to eat trash. Instead of being told what's healthy, the kids will be pointing it out themselves in this book of silly role reversals.  

 To Market, To Market
by Nikki McClure

Alternating between story and fact, this lovingly crafted picture book follows a mother and son to the weekly market. As they check off items on their shopping list, the reader learns how each particular food was grown or produced, from its earliest stages to how it ended up at the market. 

 How to Make an Apple Pie
by Marjorie Priceman

An apple pie is easy to make...if the market is open. But if the market is closed, the world becomes your grocery store. This deliciously silly recipe for apple pie takes readers around the globe to gather ingredients. First hop a steamboat to Italy for the finest semolina wheat. Then hitch a ride to England and hijack a cow for the freshest possible milk. And, oh yes! Don't forget to go apple picking in Vermont! A simple recipe for apple pie is included.

 I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (Charlie and Lola)
by Lauren Child

A witty book on perspective. Lola won't eat healthy foods until her brother creatively renames them, calling carrots Orange Twiglets from Jupiter, and mashed potatoes Pointy Peaks of Mount Fugi. After reading, have your students come up with other creative fun names for commonly disliked foods or write a story about a time they ate something new and were surprised by it's taste.  

 Green Eggs and Ham
by Dr. Seuss

How could I leave out the classic children's story on overcoming food objections? True story: my son has refused eggs for months. "No, I don't like eggs" he has insisted over and over, just like the Dr. Seuss tale. (We've been vegan for his whole life and just added eggs back in in the last few months, so they are a new food for him.) I picked up Green Eggs and Ham for him a few weeks ago and last night for dinner, he requested a fried egg and then asked for an encore for breakfast this morning

Tyler Makes Spaghetti !
by Tyler Florence

Who doesn't love Food Network Star Tyler Florence? My three-year old thinks he's a friend of mine after watching a few "Food Truck Race" episodes with me. "Hey Mom, where's Tyler? He's at work?" Anyway, this adorable story by Tyler about a little boy getting to spend the day making fresh pasta, sauce, and meatballs with a local chef, teaches kids about real home cooking....the first step to raising a long-term healthy eater. 

How Did That Get In My Lunchbox?: The Story of Food
by Chris Butterworth

One of the best parts of a young child’s day is opening a lunchbox and diving in. But how did that delicious food get there? From planting wheat to mixing dough, climbing trees to machine-squeezing fruit, picking cocoa pods to stirring a vat of melted bliss, here is a clear, engaging look at the steps involved in producing some common foods. Health tips and a peek at basic food groups complete the menu.

The Boy Who Loved Broccoli
by Sarah A. Creighton

"The Boy Who Loved Broccoli" is a humorous tale about Baxter, a boy who enjoys eating broccoli so much that it gives him super powers. After jumping over mountains and splashing through lakes, he goes on to perform superhero good deeds and convinces others to indulge in the delicious green veggie, only to find out that they become filled with super powers as well.

It's Disgusting and We Ate It! True Food Facts from Around the World and Throughout History
by James Solheim

After reading this book, even your pickiest eater students will think meatloaf and mashed potatoes sounds pretty good. Boys especially will love this wacky book on some of the crazy things people from around the world eat. It's educational, entertaining, and down right disgusting.
 

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