Jeonnam-Gwangju Seogu to Launch "Learning Health Through Play": Children’s Health Experience Center Opens in August

Seven Themed Hands-On Zones Including Hand-Washing
Fostering Lifelong Healthy Habits

Seogu District in the Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan City is taking steps to foster healthy habits among children by combining play and hands-on activities in health education.

Seogu announced on July 27 that it will begin full-scale operation of an experiential health education program for local children aged five and six at the "Children’s Health Experience Center," located on the third floor of the Yangdong Hyomaeul Community Center, starting in August.

The Children’s Health Experience Center is an activity-based educational space designed to help young children, during the key preschool period when healthy habits are formed, to see, touch, and feel the importance of health in a natural way.

Children's Health Experience Center to Learn with Five Senses in Seo-gu, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do. Provided by Seo-gu Office

The key feature of the center is that it moves beyond simple theoretical instruction, allowing children to physically practice healthy habits through play.

The experience center is organized into seven themed zones designed to boost children’s interest and participation.

In the hand-washing zone, children compare hygiene levels before and after washing hands using a view box, while, in the oral health zone, they learn proper tooth brushing methods using tooth and toothbrush models.

Nutrition education is provided with the help of color-food magnetic educational tools to teach balanced dietary habits, and, in the physical activity zone, children can understand the importance of movement through a rock climbing activity.

Additionally, in the smoking prevention area, children compare models of a healthy lung and a smoker’s lung to grasp the dangers of smoking, while the alcohol prevention area allows them to experience the dangers of drinking indirectly by walking while wearing goggles that simulate the effects of alcohol.

In the life beginning zone, a program using fetal development models is provided so children can learn about the preciousness of life.

The program will run on weekday mornings by prior reservation starting in August, and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for groups from local daycare centers and kindergartens. For safety, each session is limited to fewer than 30 participants. Education times and detailed schedules will be coordinated with each participating institution depending on their circumstances.

Institutions that wish to participate can apply by phone to the Health Promotion Division of Seogu Public Health Center starting July 27.

Lee Ikang, chief of Seogu District Office, stated, "The Children’s Health Experience Center is not merely a space that conveys knowledge, but a place where children naturally learn the importance of health through play. We aim to continuously expand this experience-centered health education so that healthy habits formed in childhood can lead to lifelong well-being."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.