24-2
CHILD-to-child
Some of the best ideas for
teaching and involving children in
health care have been developed
through the CHILD-to-child
Program.
CHILD-to-child is an
international program designed to
teach and encourage school-aged
children to concern themselves with
the health of their younger brothers and sisters. The children learn simple
preventive and curative measures appropriate for their communities. They pass on
what they learn to other children and to their families.
The CHlLD-to-child Program first began in preparation for the International
Year of the Child, 1979. David Morley (author of Paediatric Priorities in the
Developing World and See How They Grow) brought together a group of health
workers and educators from many countries. This international group designed an
experimental series of ‘activity sheets’ for children, to be tried out by teachers and
health workers. The activity sheets are not intended as step-by-step instructions.
Rather, they are suggestions for helping teach children about important health-
related subjects.
CHILD-to-child activity sheets have been written on the following themes:
• How do we know if our children get enough food?
• Healthier foods for babies and children*
• Care of children with diarrhea*
• Accidents*
• Our neighborhood—making it better*
• Let’s find out how well children see and hear
• Looking after eyes
• Our teeth
• Health scouts*
• Playing with younger children*
• Toys and games for young children
• A place to play
• Children’s theater—and stories about safety and health
• Understanding children with special problems
• Understanding children’s feelings
• Early signs of illness
• Caring for children who are sick*
• Better health habits*
These activity sheets are available in several languages from TALC (see page
Back-3). TALC also distributes a 104-page book entitled CHILD-to-child, by
Aarons and Hawes, published by Macmillan in England. The book contains 8 of the
activities, but does not include all of the ideas from the original sheets.
It should be clearly understood that the activity sheets, written for use in many
countries, must be adapted to local situations.
*Included in the book, CHILD-to-child.