How to talk to young children about their body
Between the ages of three and eight, children discover that their body is not just something that runs and jumps — it is something that works. Suddenly they want to know why their heart beats faster after a race, or where their breakfast went.
Use the real words
Lungs, stomach, skeleton, brain. Children handle real words beautifully when they come with a picture and a feeling. “Your lungs are like two balloons that fill up when you breathe in” is simple and true.
Start with what they can feel
Put their hand on their chest while they breathe. Let them feel their tummy after a snack. Ask them to squeeze a fist and watch the muscle in their arm. The body is the best science lab they will ever own.
Answer the question they asked — not more
A four-year-old asking “why do I have bones?” wants one good answer, not a lecture. “So you can stand up tall — without bones you’d be wobbly like jelly!” is perfect. If they want more, they will ask.
Turn it into a ritual
Pick one body part a week. Read about it, color it, look for it in the bath or on a walk. Small, repeated moments build knowledge that lasts much longer than a single big explanation.
