More and more, parents are making the decision to pull their kids out of the public school system and take their education into their own hands. This gives parents the opportunity to shape the curriculum their children are taught, which is an enormous benefit, but also an enormous responsibility.
From a dental perspective, one of the important things that you should teach your kids is the importance of proper dental hygiene and the consequences of neglecting the teeth. Thankfully, there is no shortage of resources out there that can help your kids engage with their oral health. Here are a few examples.
Online Resources About Oral Health
If your child is being homeschooled, in most circumstances they’re likely comfortable with using the internet as a learning resource. In that case, they may benefit from the various websites that are designed to help kids take care of their smiles.
The American Dental Association has a website designed for kids that includes games, printables, and other activities that can help kids learn. As a parent, you may also want to check out their Smile Smarts Dental Curriculum, which can help guide you in how to talk to your kids about dental hygiene.
Dentistry Play Sets
Kids, especially younger ones, often benefit from incorporating learning into playtime. There are plenty of toys, made by companies ranging from Lego to Play-Doh, that are designed to get children comfortable with dental work. If you find that your child is unusually nervous when they visit the dentist, these toys may make the concept more appealing for them.
Kids’ Books About Dentistry
Children often learn better from stories than they do dry lesson plans, so you might want to incorporate children’s books about dentistry into your home. The Berenstain Bears, Arthur, Dr. Suess, and Mercer Mayer all have classic kids’ books to this effect that can be immensely educational for your children.
About the Author
Dr. Stephen Tomaszewski (or simply “Dr. Steve”) prides himself on being at the bleeding edge of modern dentistry. He learned this philosophy from his father, who was also a dentist, and it means a lot to him that he gets to carry on the family tradition. Dr. Tomaszewski received his dental degree from the LSU School of Dentistry before joining the U.S. Navy Dental Corps to hone his craft. He has also been voted the Top Dentist by his peers in New Orleans Magazine every year since opening his practice in 2007.
If you have any questions about how to support your child’s oral health, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (985) 641-4444.
