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HEART BEATS
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Bring in one or two good quality stethoscopes. |
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Show your children how to use the stethoscopes to listen to their heart beat. |
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Show your children how to tap out the rhythm of their heart – lub-dub-lub-dub. |
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Ask your children if they can think of any way to change how fast their hearts are beating. |
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Have children jog in place for several minutes, then let them recheck the rhythm beats of their hearts. |
Extended Activity: Invite a nurse to visit your group. Ask her to bring in a stethoscope and to talk to your children about keeping their hearts strong and healthy.
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FOODS FOR HEALTHY HEARTS
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Display a selection of foods, food packages, or pictures of foods that promote healthy hearts. |
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For instance, you might include pictures of chicken and fish, a varitiey of bright colored fruits and veggies, bottles of pure juices, and packages of whole grain cereals and breads. |
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Talk with your children about how eating well and exercising make our hearts say “Thank You”! |
| Extended Activity: Cut pictures of heart-healthy foods out of magazines and store ads. Let your children choose pictures and glue them onto paper plates to create “heart-healthy meals”. |
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HAPPY HEART EXERCISES |
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Do a series of exercises with your children each day to keep their bodies and hearts happy and healthy. |
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Examples: Jog in place, jumping jacks, arm lifts, leg kicks, etc.
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TAKING CARE OF
YOUR HEART
Any time you introduce hearts to your child,
discuss his real heart. Talk about where the heart is
in the body and what it does. Ask your child to think
of ways to keep his heart healthy, such as eating healthy
foods and exercising. Then sing this song with your
child.
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I
HAVE A GREAT BIG HEART
Tune: “I’m A Little Teapot”
I have a great big heart
You can see.
It pumps blood
All through me.
When my heart is healthy
I have energy.
I’m so glad
I have a heart in me!
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