HUZZAH TO NATIONAL CHILD HEALTH DAY!

You know far too many precious kids face serious challenges to their health and well-being today!

More kids and their families are being bombarded at every turn with one or more of the following:

• Food issues: childhood obesity to hunger

• Sedentary, unbalanced lifestyles

• Smoking

• Drug abuse

• Bullying and/or lack of respect for others

• Lack of nourishing time in nature

• Kids developing adult diseases (diabetes to high blood pressure)

From its start as an adult anti-smoking show at Rochester, MN's Mayo Medical Museum to Science Museum of MN teacher classes and then out into the world, The Organic Puppet Theatre (OPT) has been a whirlwind, transformational ride!

My co-author, Terry Louis Schultz, and I were always about celebrating children's health. And starting kids out right in life - with OPT puppets, songs, and fun! While they last, buy your OPT book HERE.

ACTIVE OPT FUN

Thousands of kids have made simple, inexpensive OPT puppets in many countries! They looked at them, and their own bodies, as friends. Friends to value and care for with loving respect. OPT wisdom and creative, inexpensive fun helped them build positive daily habits with families, friends, and classmates!

I reveled in seeing transformations in the 20,000+ kids and teachers who experienced active OPT fun in my workshops, classes, camps, health fairs, and more! Eyes lit up with big, bold dreams. So great to see kids inspired to develop good habits so they could achieve those dreams!

Leaders loved OPT! They could empower one child who, in turn, empowered their family to get healthy together!

ROAD TO WELLNESS HEALTH FAIRS

Loving guidance was shared with kids at hundreds of interactive OPT shows in 10 years of Road to Wellness Health Fairs. 17,000+ exuberant, multicultural St. Paul public school 3rd graders became puppeteers and audiences in 9-minute, interactive OPT shows. Each show engaged and challenged kids to the hilt!

To celebrate National Child Health Day, here are some of my fave OPT moments over the years:

• At the U of MN Hospital, Terry and I made OPT puppets with kids. Following a transplant, one little boy was reluctant to eat, but making a happy Stomach puppet helped him value his stomach. And he started eating! Seeing the body thru fresh eyes with puppets and possibility.

• I loved using my grandma as an example in OPT skits. I'd ask kids what she could do into her 90s for exercise that started with "W." I thought "walking," but one day, a rascal leaped up and exclaimed,"WRESTLE!" You can imagine the fun we had with that!

• After one show, a tiny Hmong girl pointed to my nametag, whispering, "I like your name." I looked at hers and replied, "And I like your name, Bao." Her sweet face lit up. Could have powered a city! (I was once a shy young girl and know value of feeling seen and uplifted.)

• Boldness emerged when I'd demand puppets act smart. Beyond pledging not to smoke after acting with his Lungs puppet, one boy boldly insisted, "I'm gonna flush dad's cigarettes down the TOILET tonight so he won't smoke!"

• At each OPT show, I asked kids' future dreams. One girl from a set of twins, Violet and Fuschia (who, yes, were wearing purple) announced: "I'm going to be a PALEONTOLOGIST in ARGENTINA!" Talk about a clear dream! Bet she'll live it too or one just, if not more meaningful!

ONE tiny ripple of good health for ONE child, through the OPT - can impact generations to come!

So excited to see what will ripple through new generations with new Organic Puppet Theatre activities: Celebrate Your Super Body skits and 125+ activities. And maybe your help amping up even more OPT fun. See how HERE.

[Some of 20,000 kids, who've enjoyed active OPT workshops around the world, enthusiastically sharing how much they love and value their bodies. They're joyfully waving the colorful OPT puppets they made in an OPT workshop.]

---

Linda Sorenson helps people, projects, and causes make a positive impact. As a writer, editor, and consultant, she draws on her unique global experiences at pivotal moments in time to make a joyful difference through all she creates. Puppets, songs, and active fun of her Organic Puppet Theatre: Health Activities Book workshops, shows, camps, etc. have helped 20,000+ young children value their bodies and get healthier and more active around the world Learn more at her website and then connect with her. Take flight together today!

#kids #health #puppets