Nutrition/Malnutrition is a public health measure that impacts children’s development all over this world. Working in the field of early childhood, it is important that young children get the proper nutrition they need. Good nutrition is a building block for proper development and many children around the world do not get enough to eat, and the meals they do have are often deficient of essential nutrients. Research has shown that when children get good nutrition it will strengthen the immune system, enhance cognitive and physical development, and increase concentration in school.
Children with malnutrition lack the nutrients necessary for their bodies to grow and stay healthy. Children who are chronically malnourished have stunted growth and are underweight. Studies show that stunted children in the first two years of life have lower cognitive test scores, delayed enrollment, higher absenteeism, and more class repetition compared with non stunted children.
As an early childhood professional, improving the care for young children is vital. In my future work, I will ensure that the children I work with get appropriate care that will be an essential element to good nutrition and health.
Additional Resources:
Berger, K.S (2009). The developing person through childhood. (5th ed.) New York, NY: Worth Publishers, Chapter 5.
Children International. (2011). Nutrition. Retrieved March 10, 2011 from http://www.children.org/nutrition.asp
The Mother and Child Health and Education Trust. (2011). Underlying Causes of Malnutrition- Mother, Infant and Young Child Nutrition & Malnutrition. Retrieved March 10, 2011 from http://motherchilnutrition.org/malnutrition/about-malnutrition/underlying-causes-of-mal...
The Nemours Foundation. (1995-2011). Hunger and Malnutrition. Retrieved March 10, 2011 from http://kidshealth.org/Pagemanager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=207&cat_id=20132&art
Carol,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments on my blog:) I am so in agreement with you, children need nutrition as much as they need air to breathe! My son's Head Start experience was such a blessing to both of us--the teachers were very helpful in seeing that Zechariah received the needed support for "self-feeding" (since he was diagnosed Failure to Thrive). We saw great strides during those wonderful challenging years. Now that he is in kindergarten, it is a disappointingly different story. I sat in the lunch room with my son, to observe his eating in such a distacting environment (the lunchroom cafeteria). I was deeply saddened to see so many children not eating (distracted or just not having enough time to eat all their food). I wish that I knew what to do to aid ALL of the children during this crucial time of the day--lunch! I'm certain that improved eating during school lunchtime would improve behavior and cognition in the classroom as well.
CCWhite
This topic is one to be talked about because I worked for a child care program where the family provided the meals for the children. The parents would give the children stuff that they like and it was not always healthy, I came to the understanding that what healthy to me is not healthy to others.
ReplyDeleteOnce I change my employment to a headstart program and learned the job provided all the meals for the children. In the headstart children get to eat healthy and try new foods that they would not normally eat. I so agree with your blog.