Pedagogical
implications for oral health practice in the early childhood setting
The
implications of children’s poor oral health in early child settings can be very
disruptive for the teachers as an unwell child can be more demanding of a
teachers time therefore affecting the teacher
child ratio . Teachers become peace
makers between children who are irritable and uncooperative with teaching staff and
child peers. Where oral health has
caused appearance issues for the child they can develop low self-esteem become withdrawn
from the public eye, be teased and bullied by others. Teachers need to be able
to adapt their pedagogy to be inclusive of these children.
Becoming
a teacher you commit to the profession that means abiding by the teachers
council code of conduct this involves encourage parents and whānau to get on board
with their children’s learning such as role modelling care for their teeth to
children. Under the commitment to parents/guardians “involve them in
decision-making about the care and education of their children” (New Zealand Teaching
Council, 2004, para. 8).
As
teachers we have the right to exercise Section
14 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Freedom of expression “Everyone
has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive,
and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form. To encourage parents to learn with and from
their children with regard to their oral health.
We are obliged to utilise the principles and strands our early childhood curriculum
Te Whāriki to fulfil children’s
complete development as competent and capable learners (Ministry of Education,
1996)
Encouraging children’s wellbeing I oral health education encouraging children to rinse mouth / drink
water after eating food and fruit, encourage/ provide water rather than juice.
Reference
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He Whārirki mātauranga mō ngā
mokopuna o Aotearoa/ Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand:
Learning Media.
New Zealand Teachers
Council. (2004). Code of Ethics for registered teachers. Retrieved from http://archive.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/required/ethics/codeofethics.stm
