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Child to child approach

Introduction
Health promotion for and by the children has got greater potential for
bringing about positive and perceptible changes in their health, knowledge,
attitude, and above all practices and behaviors. The emphasis is on the child to
child approach

The concept
The concept of child to child approach had evolved from the recognition of
the role that older children can play in caring for their younger siblings. In rural
areas, older children are often required to share bath, dress and play with
younger brothers and sisters and also protect them from getting injured.

The child to child concept is 1st introduced by Dr. David Morley 1978
Institute of Child Health, University of London. He used older children of age 06-
14 yrs for passing massage on health matters to their parents, siblings, and also
to their neighbors

Later in India at 1979 introduced in Kerala. Now it is functioning all

through the country as a part of school health services

Principles of child to child approach

The child to child approach will work in two main principles

1. Developing children knowledge on health

2. Change their attitude, behaviors on health

Objectives of child to child concept

 To improve the level of health, nutrition and development of children
through child to child activities

 To make learning a relevant, meaningful and enjoyable experience for the

children
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 To enable children to make qualitative improvement in life of their younger

sisters, and brothers, their parents, neighbors. Thus applying facts learnt
in school in daily life

 To improve the school and neighborhood environment through organized

activities

 To help the children feel a sense of being control of their lives

Criteria to select the sutiations

• Do the activities address important health priorities, central to the
concepts of the ‘primary health care’?

• Are the priorities selected those in which the power of the children would
be effectively used?

• Are the children are interested?

Topics for the child to child approach

1. Personal and community hygiene and safety

2. Prevention and control of disease

3. Child simulation and development

4. Recognizing and helping the handicapped

5. Better nutrition

Activities
Personal and community hygiene and safety

Prevention of accidents

 Identify accidents hazards and eliminate them

 Water younger children

Care of teeth

 Pass the good habit to younger children

Neighborhood hygiene

 Be aware of un healthy surroundings

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 Individually and together seek to improve them and teach

other children to do so

Prevention and control of disease

Oral rehydration/ diarrhea

 Recognize the signs of dehydration

 Teaching about domestic preparation of ORS

Care of sick children

 Taking care of younger children

 Finding danger signals of RTI

 Care of fever

Child stimulation and development

 Recognize the stages of growth and development

 Making toys for younger children

 Helping in play

Recognizing and helping handicapped

 Recognizing the children with these kind of problems

 Learn to do simple test for vision and hearing

 Learn to help the integrate children with these disabilities

Better nutrition

 Recognize the signs of malnutrition in younger children

 Spread the message about better nutrition

Steps in Child to Child Activities

Step I

Developing real understanding of health and health problems being

addressed

Step II

Finding out about the problem

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Step III

Take over solution, what I can do? How can I do?

Step IV

Apply solution

Step V

Evaluate the sutiations

Delivery of the services

For school children

School children will be taught in their curriculum regarding all aspects of
health

For better understandings health workers, especially community health

nurse will visit the school to have teaching to the children as well as
teachers regarding health

For non school going children

Community health nurse must encourage the child and family to attend
the school

School children will be used s teachers

Health workers will also used for approaching non school going children

Conclusion
Health promotion for and by the children has got greater potential for
bringing about positive and perceptible changes in their health, knowledge,
attitude, and above all practices and behaviors. The emphasis is on the child to
child approach