Cathy,
This is a classic LLL meeting idea.  There are many, many objects you 
can use to represent reasons to breastfeed -- just look around your 
house with your wacky/creative hat on.

I find lots of things in my children's toy baskets that I can use:
airplane = ease of travel
garbage truck = no waste, environmentally sound
school bus = optimal school performance
doctor kit = health
mini sports balls = optimal athletic skills (logical result of 
optimal growth, health, bone density, neurological development, and 
visual acuity)
small pillow (doll size) = breastfeeding parents get more sleep; 
breastfed babies have healthy sleep patterns (more rousable, risk of 
SIDS lower)
play money, wallet, purse = breastfeeding is free

and from other parts of my house:
eyeglasses = visual acuity
cotton swabs (ie QTips) = fewer ear infections (not that you use 
cotton swabs for ear infections, but people associate them with ears)
bottle of calcium supplement or toy dog bone = bone density (both 
mothers and children!)
bottle of iron supplement = bfdg protects mother's iron stores
feminine protection = lactational amenorrhea
diaper = inoffensive-smelling stools
pullup (overnight diaper for toddlers) = less bedwetting
thermometer = health
mirror = optimal jaw/mouth/oral development results in pleasing 
facial proportions
perfume = breastfed babies smell good
lotion = breastfed babies have soft skin
toothbrush or paste = optimal teeth development, less tooth decay
picture of swimsuit = mothers lose weight
child growth chart = optimal growth
child's vaccination record = optimal immune response to vaccines
cutout heart = bonding; trust your heart
organ donor card = people who were breastfed accept organ transplants better

I think I've used something to represent optimal speech development 
but can't recall now what it was.

I've done presentations to high school-age students and felt that 
they responded well to hearing the shocking facts about artificial 
feeding and formula marketing tactics -- how it is a 
multibillion-dollar business whose goal is to sell more formula, 
which necessarily equals less breastfeeding; how pervasive (and 
persuasive) the marketing is; how formula is not regulated by the FDA 
and is essentially a long-term experiment on babies.  At this age 
they have virtually no personal investment in the breast-vs-bottle 
issue so they are open to hearing about it from you.

Have fun!

Margaret
Longmont, CO

>I have been asked to talk about lactation in a middle school health class.
>I was wondering if anyone has a class outline or idea to present it to a group
>of 8th graders.
>I plan on using the homemade/store bought cookie idea.
>I also read somewhere about using a list of items teaching the advantages
>such as:
>watch (saves time)
>thermometer (prevents illness)
>but I cannot recall most of the items.
>Does someone have a list of these?
>
>
>Any other ideas would be helpful.
>
>You can email me off list if you like.
>Thanks.
>Cathy Conley RN, IBCLC

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