XN000022-1995-11-11+12 — Page 3

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Healthy teeth essential to children's development

Healthy teeth are not only essential in keeping up children's learning spirit, but also an important element in building up children's confidence as they grow up.

This was said by the Director of Hong Kong Institute of Education, Professor C K Leung, at the opening ceremony of 'Brighter Smiles for the New Generation' Healthy Teeth Carnival 1995 held at the Hong Kong Science Museum today (Saturday).

Professor Leung said the focus of the "Brighter Smiles for the New Generation" pre-school oral health education programme was very much in line with the development of pre-school children.

"At the age of three, children will start to explore and try to accomplish things by themselves, so it is a good opportunity to teach them good oral health habits," he said.

"The programme is well-designed and very innovative in the sense that it arouses pre-school children's awareness on oral health by first educating the pre- school teachers who are adults that influence them most.

"The teachers can also benefit from the process by learning more about the needs of children in maintaining oral health," he added.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Health, Dr Margaret Chan, said the "Brighter Smiles for the New Generation" pre-school oral health programme, sponsored by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, had received very good response from the public since it was launched by the Department of Health in 1993.

She said a two-pronged approach was adopted in the programme. In maternal and child health centres, parents were given information and counselling on oral hygiene. At the same time, a series of teaching kits were distributed to kindergartens for use by pre-school teachers.

In addition, the Department of Health has prepared a series of three story books on oral hygiene for distribution to children of different ages while its Oral Health Education Unit has set up a "Brighter Smiles Playland" offering children a colourful place to learn more about oral health through interesting games.