This article aims to report the experiences developed in the extension project "Promoting Life in Vila Esperança" working with groups of children using as strategy the approach of leisure and recreation, with a view to health education and the consequent improvement of family health. The methodology used was psycho-pedagogical activities, including: exploring stories from child literature; organizing and discussing contents by thematic issues, based on play activities; artistic activities and group dynamics, with the objective of developing self-knowledge, inter-relation and body expression among participants. During the intervention with the groups, it was possible to observe that, faced with the above-mentioned experiences, the children fantasize reality and express their feelings and actions, and that motivation represents an essential factor for any change in health habits.