Health & Safety

In young children, body and brain development are critically linked. Children learn in a sensory intensive manner. They engage their whole bodies in understanding foundational concepts such as left/right, up/down, fast/slow, big/little. They are also just developing a basic understanding of how to keep themselves healthy and safe. 

At Sunshine Academy, we help children learn good health and safety habits as they develop and experiment with their newly emerging abilities. Our health and physical education curriculum pervades the daily schedule, as the children learn to sit for snack and lunches, care for their personal needs, calm their bodies for rest time and use their energy during outside time. We emphasize good nutrition, hygiene and safety, body awareness, and gross and fine motor development.

LEARNING EXPECTATIONSEXAMPLE ACTIVITY

Understand and Practice Good Nutrition

  • Do taste tests of a variety of foods
  • Make a collage of healthy foods
  • Read books such as “Yummy Yucky”
  • Help serve and eat catered lunch and snack

Learn and practice good personal hygiene

  • Practice washing hands before eating
  • Practice covering nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing
  • Learn to use the toilet independently, flush the toilet, and wash hands
  • Learn to use a tooth brush correctly

Learn and practice good safety habits

  • Participate in creating class rules poster
  • Make signs to identify hazards (e.g., “wet floor” “use walking feet” “no play zone”)
  • Learn safety guidelines such as “stop, drop, and roll” and “stop, look and listen”

Learn vocabulary to discuss health, illness and the body

  • Sings songs that teach about the body such as “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
  • Make life-size drawings of the body
  • Pretend play illnesses (boo-boos, tooth ache)
  • Read books such as “Germs Make Me Sick”
  • Discuss disabilities and identify special needs accommodations in the school and outdoors

Become familiar with health and safety professionals

  • Invite a pediatric dentist to class to discuss dental check ups, demonstrate tooth brushing
  • Visit the fire station, sit in the fire trucks, and discuss fire safety with emergency staff
  • Invite the EMS ambulance to the school
  • Explore community helper puppets, puzzles
  • Play doctor and dentist with dolls, doctor kit
  • Make pretend police badges, fire hats, etc.

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LEARNING EXPECTATIONSEXAMPLE ACTIVITY

Understand and practice good nutrition

  • Make a collage of healthy foods
  • Do taste tests of a variety of foods
  • Read books such as “My Food Pyramid”
  • Help serve and eat catered lunch and snack

Learn and practice good personal hygiene

  • Play games such as tag, all fall down, basketball, t-ball, duck-duck goose
  • Practice washing hands, brushing teeth
  • Practice good toileting habits
  • Practice covering nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing

Learn and practice good safety habits

  • Participate in creating class rules poster
  • Make signs to identify hazards (e.g., “wet floor” “use walking feet” “no play zone”)
  • Learn safety guidelines such as “stop, drop, and roll” and “stop, look and listen”

Learn vocabulary to discuss health, illness and the body

  • Sings songs that teach about the body such as “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
  • Make life-size drawings of the body
  • Pretend play illnesses (boo-boos, tooth ache)Read books such as “Germs Make Me Sick”
  • Discuss disabilities and identify special needs accommodations in the school and outdoors
  • Play t-ball, throw balls in the basketball hoop
  • Roll different size balls and try to kick them

Build body awareness, strength and balance

  • Play balance games such as hopping on one foot or walking across a beam
  • Play “Simon Says” or “Follow the Leader”
  • Use the structures and swings at the park to practice a variety of body movements
  • Play games such as jump rope, catch, tag, basketball, t-ball to develop gross motor skills

Strengthen hand grasp, hand-eye coordination and other fine motor abilities

  • Use a variety of instruments to develop fine motor skills such as scissors, staplers, hole punchers, tweezers, peg boards, eye droppers, lacing beads and cards, zippers and buttons