News Release: Brush, Book, Bed launches for National Smile Month - 23 May 2023
June is National Smile Month, and as part of this the NHS Orkney Childsmile Team is hoping to raise some smiles with a lovely local resource called Brush, Book, Bed. Children at Stenness Nursery are the first to try the story bags this week.
The Brush, Book, Bed resource is designed to bring together important themes to promote good oral health and a good bedtime routine. In the bags, there are three dental-themed books, a toothbrush and toothpaste for young children, and some useful information and tips for bedtime routines.
Karyn Tait, NHS Childsmile Programme Co-ordinator, explained, “We know that the most important time in the day to brush teeth is bedtime, and we know that a story is a vital part of the bedtime routine. Unfortunately, due to the covid pandemic, many young children have not visited a dental clinic regularly in the past few years. By pulling these themes together we are delighted to share our Brush, Book, Bed bags.”
Leonie Scott, from the Community Early Years Team, said they were delighted to be involved in the project. “Settling children for bedtime can sometimes be challenging. A good routine helps children to understand what comes next and bedtime stories are great to help settle children. We are pleased to include some tips and suggestions about bedtime routines for children in this lovely resource.”
The children at Stenness Nursery have taken the books home for a week, after which they will be returned to the nursery, and other children will then have the chance to borrow the books. Fiona Manson, Early Years Practitioner at Stenness Nursery is happy to take part in testing out the Brush, Book, Bed resource, and said “This fits well with what the children have been learning at nursery recently and it is good to promote positive bedtime routines.”
After initial feedback we hope to share the resource more routinely with other settings and groups in the county. If you have any questions about this resource, please contact Karyn Tait at the Balfour on 01856 888258 or by email at ork.orakhealth@nhs.scot.
