Talk to nursery school

Re: Talk to nursery school

Will Jeffels — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:48:31 GMT

My advice is be prepared. Recently did one to junior school on feeding and teeth. When I asked if any one had any question the usual cheeky boy piped up, 'do you know how many teeth sharks have got?' My best reply was lots and they are very sharp!

Re: Talk to nursery school

Rudolph — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:26:58 GMT

Thanks for all the wonderful advice everyone! It sounds like you all have a ball with this! I've done the talk, complete with props including inflatable ticks and fleas (a huge hit!) and a teddy to bandage. The nursery had a nursery dog who obligingly let everyone have a listen to her heart. It was all good fun and a bit chaotic but I think it went well. I'm looking forward to putting some more of your ideas into practice for the next one...

Re: Talk to nursery school

Laurence Webb — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:09:42 GMT

Nursey schools are much easier than older children as there's less expectation that yuo're going to teach them, just entertain them for a few mimutes.

I take a load of props around with me. X-rays (if you've got a portable viewer) are great. Keep it simple - a catograph shold suffice so you can show them the head and the teeth, the chest and the heart (and what noise doie it make everyone?) and then the tummy. Seeing poo on the X-ray normally gets a cheap laugh - children love body functions.

The last talk I did went quite well as I spotted an enormous 4ft teddy bear at the nursery. We explained that Teddy was ill so the children took turns doing tests on him - shining lights in his eyes, looking in his ears, listening with a stethoscope and checking his patella reflexes with a hammer (went down very well when his leg kicked).

We then 'took' an X-ray - I've got a nice X-ray of a labrador that ate a metal ball so even someone with as limited X-ray reading skills as me can spot the problem - and discovered that he'd put something into his mouth that he shouldn't have. I get 2 or 3 of the children dressed up in gowns, hats, gloves and masks then did an operation to get out the ball (which I'd hidden on my pocket).

The children then just ran around wearing hats and masks for the rest of the time. Easy.

Re: Talk to nursery school

Liz w — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:56:57 GMT

the other sessions sound a lot better than one i did - might offer my services so i can have another shot. anyway - my tips are - take lots of bandages so they can wrap up soft toys, and don't mention where you stick the thermometer!

Re: Talk to nursery school

sophia guymer — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:13:55 GMT

Evelyn, I love it! You are in the wrong job|!! missed your vocation! You must be a natural with kids, i can picture the whole scene and know they will all love it and be able to understand perfectly!

Well done!

Re: Talk to nursery school

Neil McIntosh — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:42:34 GMT

I am not sure I agree with all that shouting out stuff. You need to impress the teachers too.

I take a big bag of cuddly toys and sit it at my feet. (and a Basset who is bombproof)

I satrt by asking if they think animals are more clever than humans. They always say Yes. (?auto suggestion) So I ask if animals can talk, can they play the paino, write a letter etc (usually laughs). So now they agree with my suggestion that humans are more clever.

Now take a toy elephant out of bag, ask what it is, point to trunk (they always know it is its nose) and ask if they can pick up an apple with their nose, pull a tree down (big laughs)

You can go through any animal you like/have (seal..underwater and its own wet suit, duck..fly/swim/stay warm in water, dog..tracking, squirrel etc etc etc) each has its own 'cleverer than humans thing'. Each animal brings a little thoughtful discussion and some respect for the animal's ability

They always get the gist (whereas many are too young to get the whole vet concept)

I ALWAYS finish with the horse because by this time they are all pretty excited and need to calm down. Ask what is clever about horse... it can sleep standing up..can you do this..get them all to stand up, go very quiet and see if they can fall asleep..no...try lying down, very quiet as a mouse. Leave class half asleep and calm..teachers love it!

Hope you get the gist of this!!

Don't be nervous!!

Good luck!!

Re: Talk to nursery school

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:40:33 GMT

Teddy Bear surgery is always great! Tennis ball in the abdomen teaches children to keep their toys away from "Fido". Also, otoscope on the monitor (Welch Allyn product) is fabulous (be creative!).

Have fun!

Re: Talk to nursery school

Rudolph — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 09:04:53 GMT

Thanks Evelyn, that's really good advice! Not sure my own dog is the ideal candidate for a nursery school (crazy two year old bull terrier!!) but I'm sure I can borrow some unsuspecting canine!

Re: Talk to nursery school

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:42:51 GMT

Nursery schools are great! Your audience is so undemanding. But they do need their attention holding so don't go on too long.

I always take my dog (who loves children) and my nurse and some suitable soft toys and some stethoscopes, also any suitable giveaway stuff like balls that we may have got from reps.

Once I got there and found all the children neatly arranged on a semicircle of chairs with a big chair for me facing them. I soon broke that up. We get down on the floor and I tell them (keep it SIMPLE) who I am and what I do, and then I do some thing like "who here has got a dog at home?" - some shout out "me!" - then "who's got a cat at home" - "who's got a rabbit at home" - and so on getting sillier and sillier till we reach elephants. Then we maybe do a little simplistic pantomime about the dog going to the vet, and I let them all listen through the stethoscopes if they want, either to the dog, or to themselves, or to me....... generally that gets a bit rowdy and we have to break off and do something else - sometimes I take books along and show them pictures of skeletons or something - remember they don't even know about bones yet.

Then we do some toothbrushing because it's my thing, but it generally holds their attention and of course it links with brushing their own teeth.

The time's used up by then.

You can make it a bit educational if you like (that will please the teachers) - very very simple like "always wash your hands after playing with the dog" and you make a big pantomime about going to wash your own hands.

Be prepared for some of them to apparently lose all interest in what you are saying and start playing with one of the things you've brought along. You have to keep a little control but don't try and control the whole class as if you were a teacher - basically you're there to provide a little light relief and variety to the day. Probably there will be one very forward one who wants to be the first at everything and there will certainly be a couple of very shy ones who talk in a whisper if at all....... try and give them some individual attention if you can.

If the school is any good at all you will get at least one thank-you letter afterwards. Always reply to this in suitable terms (I always make it my dog who is writing) and ask if you can "come back soon".

I've never had any health and safety rubbish about not taking the dog or not putting stethoscopes in ears. (Maybe I'm asking for trouble sticking the stethoscope inside their shirts, but I'll take that chance. Anyway, in a nursery there will be lots of staff watching your every move).