Counting Heartbeats
Get your heart pumping with The Count!
- Watch the video together, then ask children to show you where their hearts are. Explain that they don’t need a stethoscope to feel their hearts beat! If they stay still and press a hand softly on their chests, they’ll feel it! Tell kids that the heart keeps the whole body healthy.
- Speed up your heartbeats by doing a few jumping jacks together. Echo what the Count said: moving is great for you and gives you a healthy heart.
- Explain that it’s also important for our bodies to get rest and for our hearts to slow down. Encourage children to take deep belly breaths and to notice how their heartbeats change. You might ask them to lie on their backs and focus on their breathing. Count aloud slowly as they inhale (“1, 2, 3”) and exhale (“3, 2, 1”). Ask them to notice how their hearts are slowing down, and explain that breathing deeply is a great way to calm the body and slow the heart down.
Ready for Rest
Watch children around the world wind-down before nap or bedtime.
Sleepy Stars
Use this printable to try out some new wind-down strategies for bedtime.
Healthy Family Cheer
Three cheers for healthy habits! Celebrate your family’s efforts... big and small.
Many Ways to Be Healthy
Wellness looks different for every family. Read this article and consider what healthy means to you.
Our Family Dance Recipe
Find new ways to move together by creating your very own family dance!
Elmo’s Exciting Sleep
A storybook about all of the amazing (and exciting!) things that happen when we sleep.
Rethinking Rest
Rest is about more than what happens when we close our eyes at night. Read and learn about the many kinds of rest.
