Yesterday, the ELC was blessed with a visit from Dr. John, who came as part of the “Brush-A-Mania” program and as a Wesley parent volunteer. From the outset, he kept the children entertained and focused. After introductions, he showed an upbeat video with dance moves about caring for your teeth. That energized the students.
Before he launched into his presentation, Dr. John opened with a prayer, thanking for the opportunity to be there to share with the students. Dr. John introduced himself as a community helper and talked about the basics of teeth, oral health, and what dentists do, in a fun and engaging manner. He even showed an interesting x-ray of baby teeth and the adult teeth underneath! As he talked about important concepts like plaque, brushing, and flossing, many students could be seen following along, opening their mouths, touching their teeth, or whispering to their neighbour about their own daily oral routines or visits to the dentist.
The climax of the presentation was his request for volunteers. Six students went to the front and got dressed in pink and white costumes – representing teeth and gums. Then, Dr. John pulled out a giant red tooth brush and started “brushing the teeth”. At first, he started brushing the “top” of the teeth. Afterwards, he reminded students that front and back had to be done as well, not just the top. Next, he pulled out a giant piece of floss and “flossed” each tooth. The children roared with laughter and excitement, but it drove home the importance of oral health.
We are very thankful to have Wesley parents volunteer in our community, sharing their knowledge and experience with our students, especially when they do it in such a fun and memorable way! We would also like to thank Brush-A-Mania for their program and gifts of stickers, toothbrushes, and toothpaste for each ELC student.
