Source: January 2024 | Issue No. 35 | Head Start ECLK Newsletter
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Preparing for National Children’s Dental Health Month
Welcome to Resources to Make You Smile! This monthly newsletter features information and tools Head Start staff can use to help families promote good oral health. These tips help Head Start staff support families, expectant families, and children. The newsletter also includes a recipe for a healthy snack that children can make in a Head Start classroom or at home with their families.
February Is National Children’s Dental Health Month
January is a great time to plan activities to celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month in February. Developing positive oral health habits and visiting the dentist regularly at an early age gets children started on a lifetime of good oral health.
Head Start staff can help raise children’s and parents’ awareness about the importance of oral health and what they can do to keep their mouths healthy.
Resources for Staff
Brush Up on Oral HealthExplore these tips sheets to learn how to promote positive oral health practices among families and Head Start program staff:
February Is National Children’s Dental Health MonthDownload the American Dental Association’s 2024 National Children’s Dental Health Month posters, flyers, program planning guide, and publicity resources to spread the word among families and Head Start program staff about the importance of good oral health.
A Head Start Teacher’s Guide for Creating Healthy SmilesUse this curriculum in the classroom to teach children about why teeth are important, how tooth decay develops, how tooth decay and oral injuries can be prevented, and who can help them keep their mouths healthy.
Improving Oral Health Literacy Brightens Children's SmilesJan. 30, 2024, 3–4 p.m. ETRegister for this webinar to hear from the Sesame Street Workshop and a dentist about oral health literacy and why it matters. Discover resources for improving the oral health literacy of Head Start families and program staff. A Spanish-language webinar is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2024, 1–2 p.m. ET.
Resources for Parents
Share these Healthy Habits for Happy Smiles handouts with parents to help them understand why taking care of their babies’ teeth helps promote overall health and development.
Show these Sesame Street videos to teach parents how to take care of their babies’ teeth and help them understand the importance of brushing with fluoride toothpaste.
Something to Smile About: Parents’ Guide to Keeping Little Mouths HealthyShare this guide from the American Dental Hygienists’ Association with families to remind and encourage them to practice good oral health habits at home.
Cook’s Corner Recipe: Melted Snowman Water
Ingredients36 round ice balls12 baby (small) carrots24 blueberries1 pitcher of water12 clear glasses
Directions
Make ice balls using a round ice cube tray or small water balloons.
Add three ice balls to each glass.
Put one baby carrot and two blueberries in each glass.
Fill the glass with water and serve.
Makes 12 servings
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We Want to Hear from You!
Send your questions or comments to the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety at health@ecetta.info or (toll-free) 888-227-5125.
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