It’s no secret that children learn best through play. It can ignite new interests and allow them to expand their imaginations. For enterprising parents such as yourself, play can also be used as a vessel for dental instruction! Starting their preventive education early can make a big difference.
If you’re interested in some dental toys your child will love that can open the door to conversation, continue reading. Below you’ll find four awesome toys that can double as educational tools.
1. Absotoothly Awesome
This playset includes cute plastic replicas of many tools a dentist would use to perform treatments and two willing “patients” to practice on. Imagine if you’re a child getting to see these instruments for the first time. What kinds of questions would you have?
“What’s that?”
“What are these for?”
“Can I clean your teeth?”
With Absotoothly Awesome, you might need to do some homework, learn about some of the basic procedures, and relay this information through play.
2. A Giant Toothbrush
Your child won’t be able to actually brush their teeth with this, but it could be used in silly games to teach them proper brushing techniques. For example, you could cover some balloons in shaving cream (a substitute for toothpaste) and challenge the child to get all the shaving cream off without popping them!
This can show children that they don’t have to brush hard to get the job done, in fact, it’s best to move the brush in small gentle circles to get the best clean.
3. Fun Toothbrush Stands and An Hourglass
While not exactly a “toy,” allowing your child to pick out a fun toothbrush stand may motivate them to use their toothbrush more often. Integrating a two-minute hourglass timer will also give them a goal while they learn the proper amount of time for brushing.
For extra fun, let them put a sticker on a little calendar to help them track when they brush. You could even turn this into a reward system, letting them pick out new toothbrushes, toothpaste flavors, or other hygiene accessories by filling up their calendar with stickers!
4. Play-Doh Drill ‘N Fill Dentist
Saving the best for last, Play-Doh never disappoints. This set comes with a big mouth with a mold for playdough teeth that fit into it. It also has a toothbrush, floss stick, and some dentist instruments. This set could be the single greatest dental explanation kit in your arsenal.
Using the model, you can show them how to brush and floss and you can explain some of the consequences of poor oral hygiene in a way that’s not so scary, but easily understood.
Play is an important part of how children learn, but equally as important are the ways that their parents interact with them. Guided play can be a great way to explain difficult concepts to children, even beyond dentistry.
About the Author
Dr. Sheh Vahid understands the importance of starting early with children’s dental care. Her passion is treating and educating children on oral health and seeing them grow and prosper. She earned her dental doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and soon after completed her specialty training at the University of Michigan to become a board-certified pediatric dentist. To schedule an appointment at Woodland Pediatric Dentistry, call (678) 498-2878 or visit the website to learn more.