Hang posters and decorate bulletin boards using a health theme. Illustrate all the steps to properly wash your hands and brush your teeth. Post pictures of bright, tasty-looking fruits and vegetables. Hang all these materials low on the walls in areas where children frequently play or eat.
Teach children about healthy eating by talking about the food groups. Preschool-age children may not be able to memorize exactly how many servings of each group they should eat each day, but you can talk about how you should eat plenty of fruits, vegetable and dairy products each day and not eat too many sweets. Pull photos of food out of magazines. Ask children to pick out which ones are very healthy and which are less healthy, then make collages of healthy foods.
Get children moving for at least 30 minutes each day. Look for new exercise opportunities that children will enjoy. Go to the zoo or museum and walk around for a few hours. Take a hike or ride bikes at a nearby park. Get a group of children together to play hide and seek or tag. Point out to children that these activities help you stay healthy and feel strong.
Discuss mental and emotional health. Preschool isn't too young to start talking to children about these topics. Ask children to describe what things make them happy or sad. Discuss some healthy approaches to dealing with uncomfortable feelings. Help children come up with a list of things they can do when they feel bad, whether it's talking to their parents, jumping on a trampoline or kicking a pillow when they're angry. Do some role-playing exercises about feeling sad or having your feelings hurt.
Model healthy behaviors at all times when children are present. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, exercise several times a week and wash your hands and brush your teeth frequently. Preschoolers look up to the adults in their lives and are always paying attention to what you're doing.