This game works with kids of all ages. Plan a scavenger hunt in your kitchen to teach your children about nutrition and healthy eating. Ask your kids to find as many healthy items in your kitchen as possible in five minutes. These items can include fruit, vegetables, milk or healthy cereals. The one with the most correct items wins a sticker or other prize. For an added level of difficulty, quiz the children as to why each item is healthy. For example, broccoli has calcium to keep your bones strong and fiber to help your digestive system work smoothly.
Teach children about their senses by using interesting games. Ask your child to close one eye, then to hold two pencils in front, level with the floor, and touch the erasers together. Most likely, he will miss. Ask him to try it again with both eyes open. Use this as opportunity to discuss depth perception. Then, blindfold him and use household items to make noise -- crinkle paper, shake coins in a jar or bounce a ball. Ask him to guess the noises, and discuss how eliminating sight helps him focus on hearing. Try the same technique with smells, such as lemons, coffee and flowers.
For younger children, keep the games simple. Try singing the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes," and be silent during some words each time. If your child sings the right word while touching the right body part, give her a reward. For older children, play "What Do I Need?" Ask questions like, "What do I need to jump?" If the children say, "Legs," give them each a point. The child with the most points wins. As they become more familiar with external body parts, begin asking questions like "What do I need to pump my blood?" and "What do I need to breathe?"
Relieve anxiety about doctor visits by playing doctor at home. Using an inexpensive doctor's toy kit, teach your child the names of the instruments, such as the stethoscope. Allow the child to play the role of the doctor and give you shots or take your temperature. Use water or orange juice for medicine. Encourage your child to help "sick" dolls or stuffed animals while you act as the nurse. Also, try free online games such as "Elmo Goes to the Doctor" (see Resources). For older children, act as a sick patient and give them your symptoms one at a time. Use a reverse-points system to score -- the fewer symptoms they need for the diagnosis, the more points they get for that round. The child with the most points at the end of the game wins. Start with easy illnesses, such as stomach flu or a cold, and then advance when the kids are ready for more complicated ones, such as asthma or strep throat.