Ying and Yang Approach and Children’s Health Education
When your children are very small, you will want to begin to teach them how
to take care of their health. Show them how to chew properly. If they have a
stomachache, explain to them that instead of eating heavy foods at that time,
a simpler meal will make them feel much better. Make sun: to check their
bowel movements every day when they are very young. When your children
are older, you can ask them to let you know whenever they have a problem
with their bowel movement. For example, tell them to notify you if their stools
are too dark, or if they develop diarrhea or constipation. There is no need to
discuss their bowel condition every day, but if it becomes abnormal, it is
important for your children to tell you right away. If you explain to them why
this is important, they will not feel embarrassed to discuss it. If older children
wet the bed often, it is also a sign that their condition is somewhat out of
balance. It is important to discuss problems such as these and to cooperate
with children in making the appropriate changes in their diet so as to correct
imbalances before they become serious.
Teaching children how to create harmony and attain balance gives them an
essential tool for their future health and happiness. Begin by explaining foods
in terms of yin and yang. Tell them, for example, that animal products, such as
meat, poultry, and eggs, are very yang. Explain that sugar, honey, tropical
fruits, spices, soft drinks, chocolate, and candy are very yin. Tell them that
these foods are generally too extreme for use in maintaining health, and that
more centrally balanced foods like whole grains, beans, and fresh local
vegetables are best for maintaining a healthy condition.
If children develop some type of symptom such as a runny nose or sneezing,
ask them what they ate in order to help them see the connection between
their eating and day-to-day condition. You can also explain their condition in
terms of yin and yang by telling them, for example, that a runny nose or
sneezing is often caused by excess yin foods and drinks.
When explaining things in yin and yang terms, it is better to avoid using words
like "good" and "bad." Yin and yang are simply complementary yet
antagonistic tendencies that are found throughout nature. Thinking in terms of
"right" and "wrong" can lead to a one-sided view of life.
Parents can show their children how yin and yang apply to all areas of life.
Adults should try to express themselves simply and poetically in language that
children can understand. Yin and yang can also be taught by pointing out the
spiral pattern in nature. Draw children's attention to the many spirals that
exist in nature, from galaxies to the spiral on top of the head.