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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
Child to Child is an approach to health education of the primary school-age child. In developing
countries, infants and young children spend much of their lives in the care of an older brother or sister.
Morley, a paediatrician, saw the potential of teaching these older children to provide better care for
their siblings. Working with colleagues in education, Child to Child was launched in 1978, the
International Year of the Child. Teaching material was prepared covering developmental needs,
nutrition, common illnesses and aspects of the environment; a book was published describing an
activity-oriented teaching method. This material was distributed to developing countries world-wide,
with encouragement to use the material and ideas freely, adapting, translating, or innovating as found
useful. Child to Child is now in use in 60 or more countries, and in at least 15 languages. It is being
used by agencies like the World Bank, UNICEF, UNESCO, and OXFAM as a way of reinforcing
community education in the search for 'Health for All by 2000'. A world-wide review of Child to Child is
in hand. Information from this will help to provide firm guidelines on implementation in the different
contexts where its value has already been established.

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 0614 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

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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
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.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Personal and community hygiene and safety

Prevention and control of disease
Child simulation and development
Recognizing and helping the handicapped
Better nutrition

Activities
Personal and community hygiene and safety
Prevention of accidents
Identify accidents hazards and eliminate them
Water younger children

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Care of teeth
Pass the good habit to younger children
Neighborhood hygiene
Be aware of un healthy surroundings
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