A healthy lifestyle (HLS) in preschool is one of the main components of the normal functioning of the child's body. Compliance with the rules and regulations for the preservation of health also has an impact on the mental state and development of the child.
The introduction of healthy lifestyles in kindergarten is the main task of all members of the educational process. However, few people know how to instill in children a positive attitude towards procedures for maintaining and promoting health. Let's figure it out together.
Wellness environment in the DOW
Living conditions in modern society impose increased requirements on the state of health of preschool children, which, unfortunately, not all children can observe. The increased birth rate of children with psychophysical disabilities is another reason for the introduction of healthy lifestyles among the masses of the population.
Kindergarten is the place where a child, starting from 3 years old, spends most of his time. That is why it is necessary to pay extremely increased attention to introducing children to healthy lifestyles in kindergarten. For this, an appropriate health-improving environment must be created here, first of all. It includes:
- well-equipped gym;
- music room;
- showers for hardening;
- physiotherapy room;
- the presence in the group rooms of a sports zone;
- garden plot adapted for outdoor games;
- food block that meets all sanitary standards.
Receptions for the development of healthy lifestyle in kindergarten
- Air baths. The main regimen moment in the DOW is a walk in the fresh air. This is the most common way to improve children's health. Walking can be combined with outdoor games, gymnastics and even hardening.
- Balanced diet. Children's food should contain vitamins and minerals necessary for the normal growth and development of children. Food should also be balanced, i.e. contain proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Also, an important role is played by the meal time, which should be uniform and the same every day.
- Personal hygiene. Children need to be taught to perform all hygiene practices even without reminders from their parents.
- Hardening. It is necessary to correctly and smoothly begin to temper children not only with water procedures, but also with air.
- Daily regime. This method disciplines children well, and their life acquires a certain rhythm. In a properly organized mode, all types of children's activities are optimally combined.
Project plans for the implementation of healthy lifestyle
For organized systematic work to instill healthy lifestyle in children, educators have developed all kinds of activities. These classes are provided for by calendar-thematic and long-term plans, which are approved by the head of the institution. All these class notes are collected in large-scale projects on healthy lifestyle in kindergarten, which can be implemented from a week to a month. The names of these projects can be very diverse. For example: “Let's say health - YES!”, “Health week”, “We are friends with sports”, “Healing water”, “Where health is hidden”, “Sportlandia”, “Be healthy!” and others. Despite the variety of names, all projects on healthy lifestyle in kindergarten are aimed at forming in children of all ages the right attitude to their health and the health of others, preventing the appearance of harmful habits and inculcating useful habits, and expanding knowledge about a healthy lifestyle.
Forms of implementing a healthy lifestyle program
The most common form of implementing an educational program on healthy lifestyle in kindergarten is classes. With their help, children are informed about healthy lifestyles and how to conduct them. Undoubtedly, it is necessary to instill the rules of personal hygiene and to form a correct idea of health from the earliest years. However, the most informative classes on healthy lifestyle in the middle group of kindergarten. This is exactly the age when children still do not know much, but they have basic skills for maintaining health. Further, this knowledge must be updated and supplemented as children develop and grow older.
In kindergarten, classes on healthy lifestyle have a clear structure and sequence of stages. In addition, in the process of training certain goals and objectives should be realized, in this case, the development of healthy lifestyles in children.
Health clubs in kindergarten
For parents who believe that in the process of the educational program their children receive insufficient rehabilitation in kindergartens, additional physical education, gymnastic or health clubs are created. The main direction of sports clubs is the formation of a positive attitude towards sports and physical activity in children. Classes in such circles contribute to the development of physical abilities, perseverance and self-confidence. Health clubs are aimed at restoring strength or eliminating any physical ailments, i.e. have a kind of corrective orientation.
Healthy lifestyle in the game
The game is the most acceptable way to educate children in preschool age, since it is their leading activity. Each healthy lifestyle game in kindergarten has a specific focus. It is impossible with one lesson to develop in a child all the components of physical health. Therefore, they often use at least 2-3 games, which should be aimed at the formation of various components of a healthy lifestyle. For instance:
- Game "Dangerously Safe"
Purpose of the game: to teach children to distinguish between dangerous and safe actions and zones.
The course of the game: the playing field is divided into two zones - red and yellow, which corresponds to a dangerous and safe zone. Children walk freely on the playing field until the educator calls any action that the children need to mentally classify as dangerous or safe, and go into a certain color zone on the field. Examples of actions:
- the boy plays on the roadway;
- a girl crosses the road right in front of the car;
- children play in the sandbox;
- the boy used someone else's comb;
- the girl used someone else's handkerchief;
- children left the playground without asking, etc.
2. The game "Personal Hygiene"
Purpose of the game: to cultivate the right habits in children, to consolidate knowledge about personal hygiene.
The course of the game: the children become in a circle, in the center - the driver, who plays the role of an arrow. The driver spins around its axis until the teacher says “Stop!”. The one whom the "arrow" points to must answer without words, pantomime to the question of the educator. Examples of questions:
- what do you do after waking up in the morning;
- how to wash;
- how to brush your teeth;
- how to comb your hair;
- how do you do morning exercises, etc.
For older children, the task needs to be complicated: the children do not answer the question of the teacher, but they themselves show these regimen moments, and the rest must guess which procedure the child shows.
3. The Vitamin game
Purpose of the game: to introduce children to vitamins and to expand the supply of knowledge about where vitamins are.
Course of the game: the children are divided into two teams. The player from the first team shows a picture of the vitamin, the children from the other team in response show pictures of vegetables and fruits that contain the vitamin. Next, a player from the second team shows a vegetable or fruit, and players from the first team show what vitamins are contained in this product.
Parent counseling on healthy lifestyle
Despite the fact that children spend most of their time in kindergarten, many regimen moments that must be observed and that are the basis of a healthy lifestyle, children perform at home. Accordingly, it is necessary to educate parents of preschoolers to create family continuity and kindergarten in addressing the issues of instilling healthy lifestyles for children.
Consultations on healthy lifestyles in kindergarten are mainly held at parent meetings, which can be scheduled or unscheduled, dedicated to a specific topic. The topic of consultations should be varied and cover pressing issues. When implementing healthy lifestyle plans and projects described above, consultations are usually provided directly in the plan, at least 2-3 times for the entire project.
Information for Parents
Not all parents have the opportunity to attend parental meetings, especially when they are unplanned. For such situations, memos on healthy lifestyle in kindergarten are provided. They are located mainly in hallway groups. The teacher prepares the memos. Their appearance can be completely different, however, the most common are folders, folders. The main condition of such memos is colorful and informative, in order, firstly, to attract the attention of parents, and secondly, to provide the most complete information on the healthy lifestyle, which parents can apply at home.
Also popular are leaflets, which the teacher also prepares and distributes to parents. In this case, parents have the opportunity to read the information at home, in a more comfortable atmosphere.
Parent Tips
- Parents must always remember that their children are their reflection. The way parents relate to their health and whether they maintain a healthy lifestyle is also reflected in the children. Children cannot be required to comply with the healthy lifestyle rules if their parents do not do it themselves.
- Spend more time with your children. Active vacation with the whole family is the best way to spend leisure time.
- Learn to deal with your stress. Mental balance is an important component of healthy lifestyle. No need to transfer your problems to children. On the contrary, you need to show them how to deal with it.
- Do not allow children to watch TV for long. Visual hygiene also applies to healthy lifestyle and must be respected.
- Give your child to the section. This will help them throw out anger and excess energy, strengthen their health and develop strong-willed regulation.