| Kids today need Healthy Foods and Snacks more | | | | (throw your hands up and down quickly with |
| than ever. Poor diet, junk foods, lack of physical and | | | | words)So roll your hands so slowly, (make fists with |
| mental activity, cause lazy , over weight children with | | | | hands and roll about chest level like your punching a |
| poor concentration/social skills as well as poor learning | | | | bag)and roll your hands so fast, ( same action as |
| skills.Here are a Few Ideas for Your Kids:HEALTHY | | | | above except fast)give your hands a clap clap clap |
| SNACK IDEAS FOR KIDS:Introducing healthy eating | | | | and fold them in your lap tap tap. (follow directions in |
| habits to your kids is very important. Especially these | | | | this line)Talk to the children about balloons and balloon |
| days where take-out and drive throughs are very | | | | safety. Ask open ended questions such as "Where |
| popular. Eating healthy foods and snacks is a very | | | | have you seen balloons before?" "What different |
| important factor in all children's physical and mental | | | | shapes and colours of balloons can you remember?" |
| development. Here are some ideas for fresh, tasty, | | | | "Why or where do we use balloons?"Have a bag of |
| healthy snacks in mid-afternoon and other times of | | | | different shaped balloons with you. Blow up a balloon |
| the day.Things you will need: | | | | and talk about the shape and color of it. Ask, "What |
| knifenapkinscelerycream cheese or peanut butter (or | | | | do you think will happen if I let it go?" ( let balloon |
| both)crackersolive slicesraisins | | | | go).Blow up a different balloon and talk about the |
| Have chopped celery sticks on the table. Ask the | | | | shape and colour of it. Ask "What do you think will |
| children if they would like their celery filled with either | | | | happen if I pull the bottom blow whole tight and |
| cream cheese or peanut butter. If they don't want | | | | slowly let the air out?" (Make high pitch noise with |
| any filling, don't force it. Ask if they would like to | | | | balloon).Then blow up a third balloon and talk about |
| decorate their cream cheese with olive slices or | | | | the shape and colour. Ask, "What do you think will |
| peanut butter with raisins.Do the same as above with | | | | happen if I hold the balloon and let the air come out |
| crackers. Great choices for crackers are Ritz, Breton, | | | | by itself without touching the blow whole?" (Let the |
| and/or Graham Crackers. Makes a Great, Healthy and | | | | air out so it makes a low airy sound).Have children |
| Fun Snack for kids.Have fresh juice, milk or water | | | | stand up and sing The Balloon Song: (tune- Here We |
| available to drink.Circle Idea For Kids Using | | | | Go 'Round The MulBerry Bush)I'm a balloon can't you |
| Balloons:This Circle Idea should be implemented with | | | | see, can't you see, can't you see, I'm a balloon can't |
| children at least 3 years of age and up. Any children | | | | you see so please do not pop me. (float/dance |
| who are still in the stage of exploring sensory oraly | | | | around like balloons)I can fly and dance around, dance |
| need to be supervised with great caution. Balloons | | | | around, dance around, I can fly and dance around |
| are serious choking hazards so please use caution | | | | (stop dancing and say) "OH NO! YOU POPPED |
| when implementing the activities mentioned in this | | | | ME!"Have the children pretend the air is going out of |
| Circle Idea. It is a good idea to go over the safety | | | | them and fly around like the balloons at circle time |
| issues with children so they understand the risks as | | | | that lost their air.Now have all the children sit down in |
| well.Opening Song: (sung to - Farmer in the Dell)Hello | | | | a circle again and hold hands.Then sing the "End of |
| to everyone, ( wave to children)and how are you | | | | CircleSong" (tune-Skip to my Lou)Shake hands with |
| today?We come to our circle time,to laugh and sing | | | | friends 'cause it's time to go, Shake hands with |
| and play.And when you're up you're up, (hold hands in | | | | friends 'cause it's time to go, Shake hands with |
| the air)and when your down your down, ( place | | | | friends 'cause it's time to go.....We'll see you again |
| hands on floor)and when your only half way up, (hold | | | | next time. |
| hands about chest level)your neither up nor down. | | | | |