We know that healthy bodies helps us to be healthy physically and mentally.
We understand that getting heathy habits in place when children are younger means they are more likely to stick.
We want all our children to lead long, healthy and happy lives. 
At Children's House we support children and families to make choices which will benefit their health and wellbeing every day.

Over recent weeks we have been supporting families with a range of experiences to support this understanding:
Family workshop - families came together with their children to prepare and taste a range of fresh fruit and vegetables. 
They identified, washed and sliced the fruits together and then shared them. Parents talked with each other and their children. 
Meanwhile in class children have been talking about healthy foods and healthy habits: children have followed recipes and used one handed tools to prepare ingredients to make fruit kebabs, pancakes and vegetable fritas!
Many children knew and could explain how to keep their teeth healthy and healthy choices they could make - drink water, not fizzy drinks and brush regularly.
They also were able to engage in physical play in the garden - running, jumping, climbing, dancing, cycling, hoola hooping, skipping, crawling and hopping.  Some children identified their bodies were hot and their hearts were beating fast. 

Things your family can do together - 

• Collect your child  from school with a piece of fruit;
• Leave your phones in your pocket/bag;
• Walk, cycle or scoot to school;
• Go to the park to run, climb and play;
• Smile at strangers;
• Say "Hello" to people that serve you in shops and to your neighbours;
• Recycle rubbish and put waste in the bin;
• Stop and notice flowers, trees and birds in our local area;
• Talk to family and friends - laugh together and listen to each others stories.

Our workshops are always so popular art Children's House. Families are always very willing to get involved in school life and support the learning and development of their children. 
Over the past three weeks we have enjoyed a wonderful practitioner from Tower Hamlets Parental Engagement Team visiting Children's House to lead sensory exploration workshops.

We know that many children at differing stages of development may have sensory processing needs which we need to consider to help their overall development.
Hamida started with an information session for parents and carers: sharing ideas and opening up discussions to help them share their experiences and any issues they may need support with. We wanted carers to feel listened to. 

Next session, children joined their parents/carers and they followed a very simple recipe to make playdough together. The children and their carers then immersed themselves in the ingredients: mixing and pouring.
Once the playdough was ready, they explored together: rolling, stretching, prodding, cutting and folding. They talked and had fun together, sharing vocabulary, laughter, eye contact and joy.
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The final session is this Friday (14 February at 9.15am at Children's House) please join if you can!