Today, May 29, World Digestive Health Day is celebrated and to be able to talk with children about the importance of digestive system, how it works and how you should take care of your digestive health, we bring you a fun proposal to do with the little ones. The models are fun, a great option to recreate anything difficult to imagine such as the digestive system.
Although you can see it in pictures, being able to visualize the size of your organs, where they are located in your body, or how they work is the best way to learn easily. In addition, you will have a great time creating crafts with your children. This project can be done in different ways, with molding dough or with drawings, although here we leave you the following idea.
How to make a model of the digestive system
This time we are going to use a white shirt as a base. In this way, children can put on the shirt and visualize the digestive system as it really is inside the body. You will also need scraps of felt fabric in different colors, if you prefer you can use eva rubber. For the joints of the pieces you can use a needle and thread, a silicone gun or adhesive for fabrics.
You will also need scissors, a black indelible marker, cotton or fiber cushion filling, paper to create the patterns, and adhesive velcro to attach the organs of the digestive system to the shirt. Now you can start, let's see what it is step by step before starting this project.
Step by step
The first of all is to make some molds with paper, which will be used as patterns on the chosen material. These are the steps to follow.
- We spread the t-shirt and with a sewing chalk or a pencil, we make some sketches of what the digestive system will be, so we will have an idea of the size it should have.
- Now we draw on the paper the different organs that make up the digestive system, stomach, pancreas, liver, and large and small intestines. We will do it by eye and when they are cut, we place on the outline of the shirt to check that they fit well. We make the necessary corrections before moving on to the fabric.
- Once the paper organs are ready, we go on to copy on the felt fabric, the eva rubber or the chosen material. We will need two pieces of each one, since then we will join and fill with cotton fiber. Use a different color for each organ, so it will be easier for children to identify.
- Now it's time to put the pieces together, we can sew them carefully or use adhesive. We leave a hole in each one to be able to introduce the stuffing cotton.
- We fill with cotton or fiber filling, the pieces do not have to be too thick. Once ready, we finish sewing the hole that we had left.
- We cut some pieces of adhesive velcro and put a part on the back of each organ and the corresponding part on the shirt. Is better attach several pieces of velcro to each organ, so they will be well attached to the shirt.
- Now it only remains to place the pieces, or rather, the organs of the digestive system on the shirt. And to play with the children while they learn a little biology.
A game and an apprenticeship
Take the opportunity to explain to the children what function each organ has for the digestive system. It will be very curious check how food goes through different phases, since they are introduced into the body through the mouth, until they are eliminated with the feces. Have the possibility to see and analyze the digestion process. It will also help them understand why they should not eat certain things that make them feel bad or how they should take care of their digestive health.
Teach children to take care of themselves it is essential, it is part of their development and growth. Doing it from the game, creating mockups like this so simple, will help you understand how your body works in a fun and easy way.