Arts projects are easy ways to teach kids all kinds of
skills they may need in life, and dental care is no different. Whether it’s to
practice the actual technique of brushing or flossing, this creative enterprise
engages children in the learning process and helps them see dental care as
something they can enjoy and have fun with. With bold, bright colors and stimulating
tactile movements, art projects can encourage good dental hygiene while
fascinating kids with the process of brushing teeth. For any parents who think
their kids could benefit from dental care art projects, check out some of our
suggestions below!
Painting Teeth – Age
5-9
During this project, parents can help their child paint a
picture of his or her teeth and mouth on black construction paper, using white,
non-transparent paint for teeth. Black sheets of construction paper are used
because they show through areas that aren’t fully painted. Materials include
black construction paper, a mirror, putty or adhesive tape, and white paint.
The steps for this activity include the following:
1.Hang the construction paper as well as a small mirror
near the paper on a wall in your home. Have the child examine his or her teeth
in the small mirror, opening wide and counting their top and bottom teeth.
2.Then, draw a big circle on the construction
paper, which will be the mouth. Tell the child to paint a picture of his or her
teeth, with a paintbrush or with fingers.
3.While the paint is drying, talk to the child
about brushing teeth and using toothpaste. Explain how decay and cavities form while
pointing out the painting’s dark spots. This image is a good visual for what
happens with teeth when we ignore brushing and properly caring for them.
4.Once the initial layer of white paint is dry, add
more to cover and fill in the black spots, so that none shows through. From
there, talk about the pros of better dental care while encouraging the kid to hold
onto the picture for reminding him or her to brush each morning and at night.
5.This project can also be done using chalk. Bring
out a mirror and have the child draw his or her teeth on a blacktop area. Take
a picture of the drawing, which the child can use as a reminder.
Flossing “Teeth” –
Age 6-9
In addition to brushing, flossing is another crucial habit
kids should be taught at a young age. So, here is a simple project for helping
children learn solid flossing habits. The steps in this project involving
scissors should probably be taken care of by an adult. Materials include
scissors, a cardboard toilet paper roll, a pencil, string, and paint
(optional). The steps for this project include the following:
1.Use the scissors to pierce a slight hole into
one of the paper roll’s sides for an opening for the mouth. Cut out a 2 or
3-inch-wide, 0.5-inch-tall oval. Make cuts that are perpendicular to the oval’s
edges around the bottom and top. This leaves small flaps for the teeth.
2.Let the child decorate or paint the tube, so it
resembles a mouth.
3.When the decoration is over and the paint dry,
have the child pretend to floss the cardboard "teeth" with the string.
Show the correct flossing techniques and have the child copy you when flossing
the cardboard teeth.
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Copyright: ilona75
/ 123RF Stock Photo
