Kids play Plan's version of Snakes and Ladders

15-2-2011: With this special version of the board game Snakes and Ladders, children roll dice the size of oranges, while sliding down snakes and climbing up ladders on a board that is 5 metres long and 5 metres wide.

Lessons on the board remind children to cut their nails once a week or bathe twice a day, while one of their perils shows a child suffering a stomach ache. Another box shows an itchy child and says: "You haven't taken a bath so you must go down to no. 9." The winner of this board game receives a clean and healthy lifestyle award.

I learn good hygiene while playing

This is Snakes and Ladders as designed by Plan's team in Dampu district of west Nusa Tenggara province in south-central Indonesia.

The board game is part of the Plan Dompu's Little Doctors programme, teaching the importance of health and hygiene, often through games and activities. Plan chose to model its game on Snakes and Ladders because it is popular amog Indonesian children.

"I'm so glad because now I know the importance of having my nails cut regularly. We need to keep our nails clean for our health. I learned this from playing Snakes and Ladders and from my Little Doctor friends at school, " said Ahmadi, a 6th grader.

Classmates show classmates a healthy lifestyle

Little Doctors is a programme developed by Plan Dompu to involve children in a clean and healthy lifestyle. The Little Doctors show their classmates how to make personal hygiene - such as brushing their teeth and handwashing - a part of their daily routine.

Plan has worked with local health centres, village midwives, and 4th to 6th graders in eighteen elementary schools on the Little Doctors programme.

By Zaenuddin Kurniawan, Plan Indonesia.