Posted on May 26, 2011 by Christa Jean

When my kids were younger, I spent time in their preschool and elementary classrooms, talking about the digestive system and nutrition. The kids were so enthusiastic and excited about learning about their bodies that it led me to search for books about the human body, healthy eating, and food choices. In my search for books and resources, I discovered there were very few resources that made learning about these topics fun and engaging for kids. Hoping to fill that void in the marketplace, Human Body Detectives (HBD) was born.

That is how it all started. I realized that kids love learning about how their bodies work, and if it was available in an engaging adventurous way, with a little weaving in of nutrition, kids would gravitate towards it. And in return, this would provide a profound, longterm healthy effect on kids.

Kids are loving the Human Body Detectives series. The first edition was an entertaining audio story, with an accompanying activity workbook filled with puzzles, games, and stickers. Many people ( and kids) requested the series be available in a story book format, so I listened and I am happy to announce the launch of HBD: The Lucky Escape, a journey through the digestive system, HBD: Battle with the Bugs, a journey through the immune system, and HBD: A Heart Pumping Adventure, a journey through the circulatory system, all available in story book format and ebooks.
There are a few ways that you can encourage your kids on an everyday to be their own little detectives. It’s a fantastic to way to bring awareness to your child that will carry through their life and to create optimal health.

1. If you child wants to over indulge in a certain food, let them. Once they finish, ask them how they feel. I guarantee they will say, not so good. This will open up a great conversation on how food affects how you feel.
2. When your child has a test or a big sport game, talk about how eating ( or drinking – think water!) may help them preform better.
3. At the dinner table, talk about the vegetable they are eating. Make up stories about its’ geography, history, how its grown and what it may do in their bodies. Kids love this!
4. And of course, read the Human Body Detective stories together!

I am a big advocate for having kids be proactive in their everyday life. I believe it makes them strong, independent and more aware of their actions and feelings. In the long run, it will make them healthy – optimally healthy!

Be well,

Dr. Heather

A little bit about dr. heather:

Dr. Heather Manley, who in 2001 received her medical degree from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, is a practicing physician whose primary interest is preventative healthcare for families. She is the author of Human Body Detectives, her children’s educational series of story-telling books, ebooks, and iphone/ipad apps.  She also promotes wellness and naturopathic healthcare on her website drheathernd.com. She lives on the Big Island of Hawaii with her husband and two daughters, and is currently at work on the next Human Body Detectives adventure.

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