At Boogie Mites, our Healthy Living Programme can be linked to activities that inspire children in the early years to discover the world and themselves. Whether in the garden picking fruits and vegetables for dinner, or brushing their teeth, these original songs support learning through the power of music, and use movement to engage children. They can explore the aspects of Healthy Living whilst exercising in fun, imaginative, social scenarios.
Startling statistics around obesity and mental health in the early years suggest the need for health to be more central to the early year’s curriculum. Holistic play is important for achieving these healthy living goals – allowing children to explore and discover freely. It holds ‘the premise that each person finds identity, meaning and purpose in life through connections to the natural world.’
We work with Linda Baston-Pitt who is well known for her pioneering work in health and wellbeing including founding the national role for Physical and Nutritional Co-ordinator (PANCo). Many of the PANCo trained practitioners find that Boogie Mites Healthy Living Programme gives them engaging activities to motivate movement, learning about healthy nutrition and a healthy planet. Boogie Mites can make circle time an active engaging learning time.
The Healthy Living Programme
There are nineteen fun and easy to learn songs on the Boogie Mites Healthy Living Programme, covering five categories; Healthy Eating, Exercise, Oral Health, Recycling and Nature & Outdoor life. There should always be a chance for discussion before beginning any Boogie Mites song. In this article, we give an example of a song from each category with suggestions for discussion.
Healthy Eating
This song allows the exploration of fruit and vegetables – shapes, sizes, textures, tastes and smells providing a wide scope of fruit and veg themed activities!
Exercise
This song is all about educating the mind about the body. Focus on the lyrics “There is nothing in this world that I can’t do… Because I am fit and healthy and happy too…” to introduce the topic of growing up and different jobs people do. Look at how people need to be fit and healthy to do jobs they love i.e. explorers, astronauts, policemen/women, firemen/women, drummers, dancers, football players, builders, doctors.
Oral Health
Open a discussion about hygiene, making children aware of the importance of their everyday routine. Get all the children to pick up their “imaginary” toothbrushes and brush along as they listen to the song. It is a simple and catchy song and they will pick up the song very quickly…”I brush my teeth for a happy smile….” Read stories about visits to the dentist.
Recycling
Consider the rubbish that is produced in day-to-day life or following a picnic – talk about the importance of recycling to look after the environment. Bring out an item at a time from a recycling bag and consider how it can be used in play or making music. Create awareness of impact: Sing or say the chorus ‘Don’t throw away your rubbish, let’s all see what noise it makes, can you bang or shake it? Let’s hear it for a cleaner world.’
Nature and Outdoor Life
Teach them about other forms of life. Sing the Munch, Munch, Munch rhyme several times then use a magic wand to turn all the children into cocoons “Mother Nature weaves a spell, a special kind of magic”. Help them wrap up in a scarf. Then the butterflies appear and fly around the room with scarves trailing as wings. Flitter flutter flitter flutter…
You can try the Munch, Munch Munch song for free.
Fill out the signup form here to access the song and supporting videos.
You can get 10% off Boogie Mites Healthy Living Programme for the month of April using code BMHL10%
For enquiries, contact Sue Newman, Boogie Mites Director on 023 92 817274 or email her [email protected]
