Healthy Harold helps kids learn skeleton care for stronger bones
Your bones are doing incredible things right now, from protecting your brain like a helmet to helping you run and play – Harold shares super skeleton secrets this Healthy Bones Action Week
READING LEVEL: GREEN
Hello friends! It’s me, Healthy Harold, and to celebrate Healthy Bones Action Week from 25-31 August, we’re going to learn about something really cool: your skeleton!
Your skeleton is the strong frame inside your body that gives you shape, helps you stand tall, move around, and it protects some of your most important body parts.
When you’re born, you have between 270 and 300 bones. That’s a lot. But as you grow, some of those bones join together to make bigger, stronger bones. By the time you’re a teenager or young adult, you’ll have around 206 bones, the same as most grown-ups.
Your bones do lots of amazing jobs. For example, your skull protects your brain like a strong helmet. Your rib cage wraps around your chest to protect your heart and lungs, and your leg and arm bones help you walk, run and play.
And here’s a fun fact: Did you know the smallest bone in your body is in your ear? It’s called the stapes (say: stay-peez), and it’s only about the size of a grain of rice. That tiny bone helps you hear.
So how do we keep our bones healthy and strong? Let’s watch the HBAW launch video, then take a look at the three most important actions for bone health.
WATCH THE VIDEO
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO BOOST YOUR BONES
Eat calcium rich foods
Calcium helps build strong bones and teeth. You can find calcium in dairy foods like milk, cheese and yoghurt. Primary schoolchildren need between 1.5 and 2.5 serves of dairy every day, depending on their age. If you don’t eat dairy, try soy, almond or oat milk that has calcium added to it. Some vegetables like bok choy, kale, and edamame also have calcium in them.
Move your body
Bones love movement! Weight bearing activities like walking, running, jumping, dancing, or climbing stairs all help make your bones stronger. Even playing on the playground counts!
Get vitamin D from safe sun exposure
Your body needs vitamin D to help absorb all that calcium. Spending a little bit of time playing outside in the sunshine (with sunscreen and a hat, of course!) gives your body the vitamin D it needs to help your bones grow strong.
Where does the delicious milk come from?
Dairy farmers work hard every day to care for their cows, milk them, and keep the milk fresh and clean. The average Australian dairy cow can produce 25 litres of milk every day. That’s more than twelve 2L milk cartons like the ones in your fridge. The milk is then quickly chilled, transported to a factory for processing, and delivered to shops as milk, cheese, yoghurt and other dairy products so it’s ready for you and your family to enjoy.
Bone Zone – Fun Facts
Your bones do an incredible job every day, helping you move, grow, and stay safe. So remember:
- Enjoy calcium rich foods like milk, cheese and yoghurt every day
- Move your body
- Get safe sunshine for vitamin D
- Your skeleton is amazing, and by looking after it, you’re helping your body stay healthy, strong and ready for anything!
To learn more about building strong bones or download classroom resources, visit dairy.edu.au
WATCH THE VIDEO