Maintaining a good personal hygiene, having nutritious food, and being in a safe environment is essential for one’s emotional, mental, and social well-being.

The little munchkins from the pre-primary wing of GIIS Noida participated in a series of activities that were weaved around the theme Safety/Health and Hygiene. A week-long of activities were conducted to help students understand the value of observing personal hygiene and being in a safe environment.

The week began with sensitizing the students with some tips on staying healthy and fit along with some Do’s and Don’ts they must follow in order to be safe amid the pandemic. Since the spreading of germs is causing major health problems, the students across the segment were engaged in the “Traveling of Germs” activity. They understood how germs travel upon sneezing from one person to another, and if they happen to touch the surface that is not clean, they may get the germs that could cause more serious health problems for them and their families.

As the week progressed, the students were educated on ways they can follow to keep themselves fit and healthy, and safe from germs. Using a PowerPoint presentation, teachers also explained healthy food and lifestyle habits that the students can adapt to lead a happy and healthy life. Do’s and don’ts to be followed during Covid times were also discussed in detail.

Living in a safe environment where one feels secure with people is equally important as a healthy mind and body. The little stars of the school were educated on the presence of a good and bad touch. A video was used by the respective teachers to explain the difference between a good touch and a bad touch. They were also sensitized about their body parts and were made aware of their inner safe circle that comprises of their mother, father, grandparents, and no one out of this circle is to be trusted with their touch unless someone from their inner circle is present with them. 

Having a healthy life is incomplete without having home-cooked meals that are healthy and safe for consumption. To encourage healthy eating habits among the students, a virtual healthy tiffin competition was organized by the teachers. Parents were also a part of the contest as they made mouth-watering yet healthy food for their little ones to display online. Children spoke two to three lines on the kind of food they were displaying along with their nutritional benefits.

To conclude the week-long celebrations, a thinking Thursday activity named Fun with science was conducted virtually. The children were shown a video of the soap and pepper experiment and explained how germs that are in form of black pepper vanish on applying soap and make our hands germ-free.

The activities were highly appreciated by the parents. We got multiple appreciation letters, but the one below reinstated our belief of teaching irrespective of what mode is being followed to educate the children:

Parents of Raghav Kandwal, wrote to us stating, “We appreciate the efforts made by you and your team to teach the small children about health and hygiene. As we all know about the pandemic, it is absolutely necessary for everyone, including children, to maintain it. Though every parent tries to teach their child about these things but the School and Teachers plays a major role in shaping the Mindset. A case study says children listen and follow more to the teacher as compared to their parents. We really liked the way you taught about, not just theory, but practically about the importance of healthy food and why to maintain hygiene.

We sincerely appreciate your efforts about making the children aware of safety from strangers and about the potential sexual harassment. We are very much happy about the positive behavioural changes that Raghav is adapting - be it washing hands, timely bath, brushing teeth, proper hair, cutting nails etc. More importantly, he started having milk which otherwise we were trying since last 3 years, all thanks to your magic camera.”