Analysis of Health Content Areas and Life Skills in Children's Storybooks

Abstract

Life skills- based education is a critical element for quality education. It includes approaches such as incorporating literature and arts for holistic development. To maximize its impact on children’s literature, it must be crafted and utilized based on the developmental level, needs, and interest of children. This research employs purposive survey and content analysis in its attempt to provide information on the health content areas and life skills reflected in local children’s storybooks for Grades 3 and 4. It also determines the factors affecting the selection of children’s storybooks for health education. Results of the study show that eight out of the nine health content areas and nine out of the eleven core life skills are substantially present in the coded local storybooks. Factors affecting the use of storybooks include interests and needs of target readers, appropriateness of health content and lesson, and literary quality. Literary elements such as relevant plot, appropriate illustrations, and interesting characters that aptly describe and emphasize health areas and life skills are also found in the storybooks. However, health content standards for Grades 3 and 4 are only slightly evident. This research can be used as guide for parents and teachers in  appropriately selecting and using materials such as local storybooks for health education. Collaboration of health professionals, storybook writers, and publishers is also recommended to create more local storybooks relevant to particular levels, needs, and interests of children.

Keywords: children’s storybooks, content analysis, health content areas, health education, life skills