Healthy Little Smiles: Preschoolers

Preschoolers: 3 to 5 years

There’s a lot going on in preschooler development!

Preschoolers are getting an understanding how the world works and asking lots of questions.

Your child is also becoming more independent. For example, your child can feed themselves and do a bit more when they’re getting dressed. Children’s fine motor skills are improving and while they might be able to brush teeth, they still need help and supervision. It might also mean they say ‘no’ a lot!

It’s a great time to start talking about the things we do every day to keep our body clean and healthy.

Living a healthy lifestyle is important for children. Just like we help children to learn about washing their hands and covering coughs to keep from spreading germs, we can help children learn that brushing teeth is something we do every day to keep teeth clean and strong.

Good dental health habits at this age

Key milestones

Opportunities for learning and teaching

From birth, children begin taking an interest in their bodies. From their early explorations of their fingers and toes, the next logical step is ongoing learning about healthy bodies, which involves the development of everyday healthy habits and routines. It’s a great time to help children learn how to care for them, and how to be healthy.

These activity ideas simply provide opportunities for preschoolers to become familiar with everyday dental health practices and help them to build a positive attitude.

to create interest and awareness of parts of our body (our head, face and teeth)
to be aware of what our body parts do – smile, eat, talk
to be familiar with brushing teeth (inside, outside, top, bottom)
to explore our senses

Outcome 3: Wellbeing
Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing
Children show an increasing awareness of healthy lifestyles and good nutrition
Children show increasing independence and competence in personal hygiene, care and safety for themselves and others

Talking points

Teeth are an important part of our body
Teeth have three important jobs — smiling, talking and eating
There are lots of things we can do to look after our teeth
Brushing our teeth helps keep them clean and healthy
I can brush my teeth. We brush our teeth every morning and every night before bed
It’s good to have your teeth checked by a dentist
A dentist is a friendly doctor who helps you take care of your teeth

Activity ideas (and printables)

take pictures of the children’s smiles – print and display (and help children label)
- use the local Aboriginal language
- use the languages families use at home
at mealtime or snack time, talk about teeth – why we have teeth and how we use our teeth
images of animals using their teeth – sheep, lions/tigers, anteaters

	DOWNLOAD ACTIVITY Let's talk teeth using a mirror, children explore their head, face and teeth - and label use the local Aboriginal language use the languages families use at home
	DOWNLOAD ACTIVITY *Show me your smile* create self-portraits – draw around a child’s head on a large sheet of paper – children draw smiles and decorate by painting, drawing or collage materials
	DOWNLOAD ACTIVITY Brush off monsters children brush off ‘germs’ (draw funny-looking ‘germs’ on laminated picture of teeth with whiteboard markers) with an old toothbrush
	DOWNLOAD ACTIVITY *Let's brush* explore a ‘giant teeth’ model or large image of teeth – mouth open wide create giant teeth by cutting of bottom of 2-litre plastic bottles (paint white on the inside) and turn upside-down
	DOWNLOAD ACTIVITY Silly smile mask
Watch a video
	WATCH Teeny Tiny Stevies sing I Ate a Rainbow DOWNLOAD Teeny Tiny Stevies I ate a Rainbow Chart
	Visit to the dentist, by ABC Kids, Early Education (00 mins) Copy this link and share with families: www.abc.net.au/abckids/early-education/visit-to-the-dentist/11993100 Open Sesame Song by Sesame Street, Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me Copy this link and share with families: https://youtu.be/HM9P2lbpYlI The Dentist (Series 2 Episode 18) by Peppa Pig (watch from 2:45) Copy this link and share with families: https://youtu.be/EO90pd3apWc ‘Let’s brush’ with Tash and Chomper, by DHSV (00 mins) Copy this link and share with families: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcAjB30TLQlEYCk_wPiHgUqvyOVa0Rnqf How to brush your teeth by British Council Copy this link and share with families: https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/how-videos/how-brush-your-teeth
Read a book
	DOWNLOAD list of storybooks with dental health themes
Sing songs
	DOWNLOAD list of songs with dental health themes
	For more songs Munch & Move songs Healthy Kids website: www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au

Share tips and resources with families

Share up-to-date and reliable dental health information as well as practical tips and resources to help families encourage healthy habits at home.

Picture guides
	DOWNLOAD How to brush your child's teeth: 18 months to 6 years (see page 2 of Caring for baby's teeth and gums) Find translated versions here
	DOWNLOAD 'Tooth Tips' - 18 months to 6 years Find translated versions here
Let's make toothbrushing fun!
	We’re making toothbrushing fun! (we know it can be tricky!) DOWNLOAD *Let’s brush!* child-friendly instructions DOWNLOAD *It’s fun to brush!* toothbrushing chart DOWNLOAD *My Brushing Chart* by Aboriginal Artist DOWNLOAD *Let’s get ready for bed* bedtime routine chart
Videos
	VIDEO: How to brush with your toddler or preschooler by DHSV (45 secs) Copy this link and share with families: https://youtu.be/oVrkLUMAh90 VIDEO: *Toothbrushing with your toddler or preschooler* by DHSV (30 secs) Copy this link and share with families: https://youtu.be/iveCW3GsyY8
Books and songs
	Keep the conversation going at home Share a list of storybooks about teeth Share a list of songs DOWNLOAD Five things to do at bedtime - sing, talk & read at bedtime
Your local dental clinic
	Help families find their local dental clinic Click here to find your nearest public dental clinic https://www.dhsv.org.au/our-services/find-dental-clinics/clinic-search Ask the clinic for flyers or information you can share with families
Social media kits
	Collection of templates and images to share via social media posts or parent portal DOWNLOAD Talking about teeth: Social Media Kit DOWNLOAD introduction to Social Media Kit
	DOWNLOAD Keeping Teeth Healthy: Social Media Kit
	DOWNLOAD articles to cut-and-paste in newsletters, etc