Bed making 🛏️

Topic: Health Practices — Subject: Hygiene and Nutrition
Age: 8 years (Kenyan context)

Why we make our bed

• Keeps your sleeping place clean and tidy ✅
• Stops dust and insects like mosquitoes and ants from hiding in sheets 🦟🐜
• Makes your room nice for visitors and helps you feel ready for school
• Helps your clothes and sheets stay fresh when put out in the sun ☀️

Things you need

• Clean sheet or chitenge (wrap) or blanket
• Pillow or small cushion
• Mosquito net if you have one
• Basket for dirty clothes or used sheets 🧺

How to make your bed — easy steps

1. Open the window: Let fresh air and sunlight in for a few minutes ☀️.
2. Straighten the mattress: Pull the blanket away, shake the mattress if needed.
3. Put on a clean sheet: Spread the sheet so there are no big wrinkles.
4. Tuck the sides: Fold the sheet under the mattress so it is tight and neat.
5. Arrange the blanket: Fold the top of the blanket down a little so you can see the pillow.
6. Fluff the pillow: Tap the pillow and place it at the head of the bed.
7. Net and shoes: Put up your mosquito net and place shoes or sandals away from the bed.

When to wash your sheets

• Wash sheets and pillowcases at least once a week.
• Dry them in the sun. Sunlight kills some germs and dries them quickly ☀️.
• If you are sick, change sheets more often and ask an adult for help.

What to avoid

• Do not keep dirty clothes on your bed ❌
• Do not let food stay on the bed (crumbs attract ants) ❌
• Do not sleep with shoes on the bed ❌

Safety and help

• Ask your mama, dad, or teacher to show you the first few times.
• If your bed is high, be careful when tucking sheets — step stool help is okay.
• Keep sharp objects away from the bed when making it.

Teacher's note: Use this short activity in class — let pupils practice making a small bed on a mat or a doll's bed, then talk about hygiene and sunlight for sheets.