The seventh week, "I choose to be healthy: a smile comes from within", was a real adventure in health. Through play and good spirits, the children learned what a healthy way of life means and how to look after themselves.
We began with nutrition. We explored the Food Pyramid and discovered what a calorie is — an abstract notion children only hold on to once it is tied to something concrete, namely the food on their own plate. Then they got to work: they made their own salads, refreshing smoothies and healthy breakfasts. The gap between hearing what is healthy and making your own breakfast is enormous; the second version stays, because it can be repeated at home.
We carried on with exercise and sport. We talked about the Olympic Games and the place of movement in everyday life, and every child took part enthusiastically in physical activities. We cared less about performance and more about the idea that being active does not have to mean competitive sport.
Then we talked about looking after our teeth: how to keep them healthy through proper hygiene and a balanced diet. The children went home with a brighter smile and some new habits.
The last theme of the week was rest. We discussed how important sleep is for a healthy mind and body — the hardest subject to sell to a child, and also the easiest to argue: a day when you are tired makes itself felt at once.
By the end of the week the children knew how to choose and prepare healthy food, how to arrange their day so that it includes movement and enough sleep, and how to care for their teeth properly. Small skills, but the kind that last for years.
About the PlusKids Summer School: https://pluskids.ro/en/summer-school