Pedagogical implications for practice in the early childhood setting

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  Where oral health has caused appearance issues for the child they can develop low self-esteem become withdrawn from the public eye, be teased and bullied by others.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)

Involve the community in our teaching such as Health for kids programme into our centers. Getting involved and working toward The Healthy Heart Award for early childhood education.

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

Dental Health Foundation, (2014). Winning smiles schools programme. Retrieved from http://www.dentalhealth.ie/children/winningsmiles.html

 

Heart Foundation. (2013). The Healthy Heart Award for early childhood education. Retrieved from http://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/programmes-resources/schools-and-eces/healthy-heart-award

 

Lumino the Dentist, (2013). Health for kids programme: Dental kit launch. Retrieved from http://lumino.co.nz/helping-kidscan

 

Ministry of Education (2011) Entitlement staffing. Retrieved from http://www.minedu.govt.nz/NZEducation/EducationPolicies/Schools/SchoolOperations/Resourcing/ResourcingHandbook/Chapter2/EntitlementStaffingOverview.aspxhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18929265

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He Whārirki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa/ Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.

New Zealand Bill of Rights Act (1990) .Retrieved from http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0109/latest/DLM225513.html

 

New Zealand Teachers Council. (2004). Code of Ethics for registered teachers. Retrieved from http://archive.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/required/ethics/codeofethics.stm