Children’s
Charla !
A Guide to Preparing a Successful Charla
What is a Charla? !
The word charla means chat in Spanish and it is a short lecture
predominantly about oral hygiene. This is the educational component of the
medical/dental brigade for which brigaders are responsible to present.
Here are some key notes to keep in mind while you prepare:
•  Your target audience is children ages 2-12
•  Be interactive and creative!
•  Present the lesson as something children would WANT to learn
The purpose of the charla is to educate children on proper hygiene practices
(including: brushing correctly, flossing regularly and eating healthfully) so
that they may pass these practices on to future generations. There are topics
in this document that we strongly recommend you include in your lesson,
but the way in which you choose to present them is completely up to your
creative minds. Think skits, songs, dances, coloring activities, games, posters
and so forth! Remember to have fun with the charla—this is your chance to
interact closely with the children of the community while making a
sustainable impact on future leaders.
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Supplies & Topics !
In order to successfully run a charla, you will need the following supplies:
•  Toothbrushes (preferably children sized)
•  Toothpaste (travel-size)
•  Floss
•  Paper towel rolls
•  Cups
•  Fluoride Varnish (provided in Brigade Box)
•  Water Pitcher
•  Water jug (provided by Global Brigades Honduras)
•  Stamps, sharpies, or pens for keeping track of children in charla
•  Stickers (a nice way to congratulate children on completion of
charla)
•  Ziploc bag or small, plastic gift bags
NOTE: Quantities of supplies are listed in Medications/Supplies List. Please
refer to this list when gathering the items above.
Some key topics you will want to address include:
•  Proper teeth brushing techniques and flossing (use demonstration)
•  Alternative ways to brush and floss (using salt water as toothpaste,
string for floss, etc. )
•  Hygienic ways to store tooth brushes
•  Importance of fluoride treatments
•  Simple mouth and tooth anatomy
•  Explain why we lose our baby teeth, why good oral hygiene is vital to
our overall health, how diet affects teeth, and what happens if we do
not care for our oral hygiene (be sure to talk about cavities and
fillings!)
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Resources!
If you find yourself needing some guidance during the preparation process,
you can check out these helpful websites:
•  www.crest.com
•  www.ada.org
•  www.dent.umich.edu
•  www.teachingheart.net
Additionally, if you are looking into incorporating a song, here is a wonderful
tune that has been a big hit with many children:
Sung to the tune of Ai Se Eu Te Pego by Michael Telo
“Cepilla, cepilla, cepillase los dientes
Al frente, al fondo, encias y la lengua
Tres veces, tres veces, tres veces cada dia
En circulos, en circulos, despues de que tu comas
Te gusta los vegetales
Hacen los dientes mas fuertes
Y tener una sonrisa mas linda
Y bien cuidada y saludable”
Actual song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcm55IU9knw
UNC charla: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grrEi_GTri4
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Basic Spanish !
Though useful to have a strong Spanish speaker assist in the preparation
and presentation of the charla, it is not necessary. However, it is a good idea
to brush up on basic Spanish. Below is a helpful chart of simple phrases.
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Sample Charla Flow!
Here is a sample outline of how a charla could flow:
Introduction:
•  Introduce each volunteer working in the charla
•  Briefly greet the children and ask how they are today (Como estan hoy?)
•  State the purpose of the charla and begin covering the recommended topics
Review:
•  Ask the children to state what they have learned so far
•  Some questions to consider asking: Why do you use your teeth? How often should
you brush? How do you brush? What is a cavity (carie in Spanish)?
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Habits:
•  Talk about healthy foods and why they support good oral hygiene and then talk
about unhealthy foods and how that affects your oral hygiene
•  Remember that children will continue to drink sugary drinks so instead of telling
them to never do it, tell them it is especially important to brush after drinking these
products
Brushing and Flossing:
•  Demonstrate and explain proper brushing and flossing techniques
•  Help the children brush their teeth and make sure they are following your
demonstration
•  Explain that teeth can be brushed with salt in the absence of toothpaste and string
can be used for floss in the absence of floss
Fluoride Treatment:
•  Apply fluoride varnish onto teeth after the children brush. Leave on for 2 minutes
•  Remind the children that they cannot consume solids or liquids for 30 minutes
after the treatment
•  Make sure they DO NOT swallow the fluoride
•  Describe why the fluoride makes the teeth stronger and how it protects from
cavities
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Closing Words!
Congratulations! You have reached the end of the guide to creating a
successful charla. We hope you found the information useful and look
forward to seeing your production in country.
A few, important closing remarks.
Fluoride Treatment:
•  Children should receive fluoride treatment twice a year beginning at
about 4 years of age. On your brigade, DO NOT provide fluoride
treatments to anyone below the age of 4. You will be trained in country on
how to give fluoride treatments. Please keep watch of children who
return to the charla station multiple times a day. Too much fluoride can
damage their oral health. This is where a marker or stamp comes in
handy (use it to mark the children so you know who has been to charla).
Important Notes:
•  Staff members will be on hand to help with the station but remember this
is your responsibility so prepare as much as possible
•  10-12 children at a time for each session. You can do more or less but
between 10-12 is manageable
•  Do not forget to review all taught material with the children—you want to
create reinforcement
•  Use stickers as a congratulatory tool for completing the charla and/or as
a prize system. Please DO NOT pass out toys or candy
Questions about charla?
•  Email your respective program associate
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