Toddler Health Themes & Activities

Community Helpers

• If you walk into almost any early childhood classroom, you're sure to see a unit on community helpers. This popular Pre-K-and-under topic is simple to translate into a health theme for your toddler to try at home. Choose one or two community helpers that have health-related professions, such as doctors, nurses or paramedics. When you take a trip to see one of these medical helpers during your child's regular well-visits or when he gets sick, point out what this person does. Ask him what the medical professional wears, what that person does and who that person helps. When you get home stage a pretend play or use dress up clothes to act out a healthy helper scene.

Dental Health

• When you are creating health lessons for your toddler, don't forget about her teeth. Dental health is key to an overall healthy lifestyle, and is crucial for your child to learn about at a young age. Make brushing a priority, and fun, by playing a two-minute song while you help her to wash away the plaque and food build-up. Reinforce dental health with a coloring page or activity sheet from the pros at the American Dental Association. The ADA provides, on their website, fun-filled activity printables on topics such as brushing and flossing that you can download for free.

Germs and Hand Washing

• According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper hand washing techniques account for a 21 percent reduction in the common cold across the general American population. Help your toddler to understand that germs can get him, and the people around him, sick and what to do to prevent spreading illness. Every time that your toddler sneezes or coughs, remind him to cover his mouth and nose with the crook of his elbow. Model this sickness-stopping action for him to follow when you sneeze or cough. When it comes to hand washing, take your toddler to the sink and, using a timer for the countdown, have him soap up for at least 20 seconds after he uses the bathroom, before and after eating or when he wipes his nose.

Healthy Eating

• Although it's not uncommon for a toddler to whine or cry for a cookie, cake or salty potato chip, it's your responsibility to teach your child about healthy eating. The pediatric professionals at the KidsHealth website suggest that families have meals together in order to teach young children the value of healthy eating. Point out the healthy foods that you are serving for dinner and how mommy and daddy -- or an older brother and sister -- are eating them too. Another option is to take your child to the grocery store and show her how excited you are to pick out healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables.