### Health Habits for Toddlers: Diseases: Care
#### Lesson Plan
**Grade Level:** Toddlers (1-3 years old)
**Duration:** 30-40 minutes
**Learning Objectives:**
1. To introduce toddlers to the concept of diseases.
2. To teach them basic care habits to prevent getting sick.
3. To encourage good hygiene practices such as handwashing and covering mouths when coughing or sneezing.
**Materials Needed:**
- Plush toys or dolls
- Toy doctor kit (stethoscope, thermometer, etc.)
- Hand sanitizer or soap and water
- Tissues
- Simple picture books about health and wellness
- Visual aids/posters showing handwashing steps
**Activities:**
1. **Introduction (5 minutes)**:
- Gather the toddlers in a circle and greet them warmly.
- Briefly explain in simple words, “Today we are going to learn about staying healthy and how to take care of ourselves if we don’t feel well.”
2. **Story Time (5-10 minutes)**:
- Read a short, age-appropriate picture book about staying healthy and avoiding germs. Suggestions include "Germs Are Not for Sharing" by Elizabeth Verdick or "Wash Your Hands!" by Tony Ross.
- Discuss the book with the toddlers asking simple questions like, “What did the boy do to stay healthy?” and “Why do we need to wash our hands?”
3. **Show and Tell (10 minutes)**:
- Use plush toys or dolls to demonstrate common care habits. Pretend the toy is sneezing or coughing.
- Show how to cover the toy’s mouth with a tissue or elbow.
- Demonstrate how to wash hands using visual aids/posters. If feasible, guide the toddlers through proper handwashing steps with real soap and water or hand sanitizer.
4. **Role-Playing (10 minutes)**:
- Let each child take turns being a “doctor” using the toy doctor kit while another child acts as the “patient.”
- Encourage them to use terms like “wash hands,” “cover cough,” and “feel better” in their play.
5. **Sing a Song (5 minutes)**:
- Teach and sing a simple song about washing hands to reinforce the habit (e.g., "This is the way we wash our hands” to the tune of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”).
6. **Wrap-Up and Recap (5 minutes)**:
- Gather the toddlers back into a circle.
- Review the key points of the lesson with simple questions: “What do we do when we cough?” and “How do we keep our hands clean?”
- Praise their participation and remind them to practice these habits at home.
**Extra Tips for Teachers:**
- Keep the tone positive and encouraging.
- Use plenty of visual aids and hands-on activities to maintain engagement.
- Be patient and repetitive; toddlers learn best with consistent repetition.
**Assessment:**
- Observe the toddlers during play and practical activities to see if they correctly demonstrate health habits.
- Verbally acknowledge and praise correct behaviors to reinforce learning.
**Extension Activities:**
- Create a simple chart with pictures for hand-washing steps and display it near the sink.
- Share tips with parents to reinforce the lesson at home.
By the end of this lesson, the toddlers should have a foundational understanding of simple health habits that contribute to illness prevention and basic self-care.