While children are growing, physical fitness plays an important role as they are developing their fine motor, gross motor, and locomotor skills. Physical activities such as running, jumping and skipping can help build these motor skills in children by enhancing endurance, coordination, and strength (Robertson, 2007, p. 267). Kids who are active will:
* have stronger muscles and bones
* have a leaner body because exercise helps control body fat
* be less likely to become overweight
* decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
* possibly lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels (Gavin, 2009)
First and foremost, inactive children are more likely to become inactive adults. Children are also more likely to become overweight or obese, which can lead to high blood pressure and low levels of heart protecting cholesterol. Studies have even shown that inactivity can lead to cigarette smoking (“Children’s,” 2010). When children are inactive they become weaker and their endurance levels are lower, causing them to be more likely not to try new activities or not finish an activity that they may think is too hard. Not being able to endure challenges and activities as other children cancan damper a child’s self-esteem, leading to depression and even eating disorders, which will only increase obesity and health risks (“Children’s,” 2010)
Adults can help children develop good fitness habits by limiting the amount of time they spend watching T.V. and playing video games. Parents can also help their children by becoming more active themselves (Gavin, 2009). A game of hop scotch enhances both fine and gross motor skills. The child has to use chalk to draw the board on the ground, and they are hopping on both feet and balancing on one foot. Setting out time for play-dough is simple, inexpensive and fun. Children are building fine motor skills as they shape and sculpt whatever they come up with in their imaginations.
“The Greatest Wealth is Health” (Gavin, 2009). His quote captures my attitude about children’s health because if we allow them to remain sedentary, they will become obese and have many health problems, which costs us parents time and money. In America, we are barely keeping up with the costs of health care and medications. Keeping children healthy will decrease health costs not only as children, but adults.
One positive impact that physical activities have on a child’s health would be their willingness to continue being physical. Since children are concrete thinkers, they focus on here and now rather than the health aspects of exercise; which makes them more willing to endure new challenges as they relate to them as play (“Children’s,” 2010). As children become more confident while mastering certain physical activities, they gain a boost of self-confidence that can help them mature in areas of school work where they may lack. Such instances include raising their hands to answer a question or either for help (Gavin, 2009).
References
Children’s need for physical activity: Fact sheet. (2010) Retrieved from http://www.americanheart.org
Gavin, M. (2009). Kids and exercise. Retrieved from http://www.kidshealth.org.
Robertson, C. (2007). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education. Belmont, CA. Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Healthy Food and Nutrition
Good nutrition is important for infants because they grow faster in their first year more than any time in their lives, toddlers learn how to feed themselves and are introduced to a wider variety of foods and preschoolers begin to learn good eating habits by good examples. Proper nutrition can prevent many medical problems, including becoming overweight, developing weak bones, and developing diabetes. It will also ensure that children will physically grow to their full potential (“Infant,” 2003). Children need good nutrition because their bodies are growing and developing. Starting children out right with healthy foods that appeal to them develops good eating habits that carry into adulthood (“Nutrition,” 2008).
Teachers are being asked to take on the role of nutritional gate-keeper for children Teachers should actively help children develop healthy eating habits. One reason is that 78 percent of children are not getting enough vegetables and another reason would be that 63 percent are not consuming the recommended amount of fruits. Many children are in early childhood education environments for more than eight hours a day, yet their nutritional needs may not be met. A pleasant eating environment helps set the stage for good nutritional habits. It is important to recognize a child’s developmental abilities in respect to feeding him. Teachers can influence children’s food preferences, eating behaviors, and willingness to try new foods (Robertson, 2007, p. 292).
One way to ensure that the teachers are aware of the nutritional requirements at each stage of the children’s growth would be to create policies. This would help to keep the children on a firm and healthy track. And for the teachers, it would give them less room to make unhealthy food choices for the children and more room to focus on education, which is one of the reasons nutrition is overlooked. Another way to ensure nutritional awareness among teachers would be to avoid buying in bulk. This would avoid sacrificing the children’s well-being in order to save. It is very obvious that bulk is less expensive, but the food are also higher in both fat and sugar.
Next I will provide 3 recipes that are kid friendly. First up are Fruit Kabobs. Ingredients: 1 apple, 1 banana, 1/3 c. red seedless grapes, 1/3 c. green seedless grapes, 2/3 cup pineapple chunks, 1 cup nonfat yogurt, and ¼ c. dried coconut, shredded. Utensils: knife (you'll need help from your adult assistant), 2 wooden skewer sticks, and a large plate. Directions:1. Prepare the fruit by washing the grapes, washing the apples and cutting them into small squares, peeling the bananas and cutting them into chunks, and cutting the pineapple into chunks, if it's fresh. Put the fruit onto a large plate. 2. Spread coconut onto another large plate. 3. Slide pieces of fruit onto the skewer and design your own kabob by putting as much or as little of whatever fruit you want! Do this until the stick is almost covered from end to end. 4. Hold your kabob at the ends and roll it in the yogurt, so the fruit gets covered. Then roll it in the coconut. 5. Repeat these steps with another skewer. Nutritional analysis (per serving):141 calories, 3 g fat, 28 g carbohydrate, 3 g fat, 1 mg cholesterol, 2 g saturated fat, 52 mg sodium, 103 mg calcium, 0.5 mg iron, and 3 g fiber (Brinkley, 2009).
Next up is Perfectly Peachy Freeze. Ingredients: ½ c. milk, 1 c. sliced peaches (they can be either fresh or canned), and 1 tsp. sugar Utensils: ice cube tray blender (you'll need help from your adult assistant) and serving dishes. Directions: 1. Pour the milk into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid. 2. Pop the "milk cubes" out of the tray and put them into the blender. Then put the peaches and sugar into the blender.3. Put the lid on the blender and blend on high speed until everything is all mixed together and very smooth. 4. Pour your Perfect Peachy Freeze into serving dishes and serve right away. Serves: 3 Serving size: 4 oz. (½ cup) Nutritional analysis (per serving): 65 calories, 2 g protein, 0 g fat, 15 g carbohydrate, 0 g fiber, 1 mg cholesterol, 25 mg sodium, 53 mg calcium, and 0.3 mg iron (Brinkley, 2009).
And finally here are the Frozen Yogurt Pops. Ingredients: 1 8-oz. container of your favorite flavor of yogurt Utensils: small paper cups wooden popsicle sticks (available in craft stores), and plastic wrap. Directions: 1. Pour yogurt into paper cups. Fill them almost to the top. 2. Stretch a small piece of plastic wrap across the top of each cup. 3. Using the popsicle stick, poke a hole in the plastic wrap. Stand the stick straight up in the center of the cup. 4. Put the cups in the freezer until the yogurt is frozen solid. 5. Remove the plastic wrap, peel away the paper cup, and eat your pop! Serves: 3 to 4 Serving size: 1 pop. Nutritional analysis (per serving): 127 calories, 5 g protein ,2 g fat, 21 g carbohydrate, 0 g fiber, 7 mg cholesterol, 73 mg sodium, 262 mg calcium, and 0 mg iron (Brinkley, 2009).
A strategy to make preparing foods enjoyable for children would be to include them when making foods over the stove. If they can not be a part of the whole ordeal they may not feel that they have helped. Also, we wouldn’t want to risk them trying to cook on a hot stove when unattended.
References
Brinkley, A. (2009). Recipes for kids. Retrieved from http://www.kidshealth.org.
Infant, toddler, and preschool Nutrition. (2003). Retrieved from
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com.
Nutrition for children. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.edietstar.com.
Robertson, C. (2007). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education. Belmont, CA. Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
Teachers are being asked to take on the role of nutritional gate-keeper for children Teachers should actively help children develop healthy eating habits. One reason is that 78 percent of children are not getting enough vegetables and another reason would be that 63 percent are not consuming the recommended amount of fruits. Many children are in early childhood education environments for more than eight hours a day, yet their nutritional needs may not be met. A pleasant eating environment helps set the stage for good nutritional habits. It is important to recognize a child’s developmental abilities in respect to feeding him. Teachers can influence children’s food preferences, eating behaviors, and willingness to try new foods (Robertson, 2007, p. 292).
One way to ensure that the teachers are aware of the nutritional requirements at each stage of the children’s growth would be to create policies. This would help to keep the children on a firm and healthy track. And for the teachers, it would give them less room to make unhealthy food choices for the children and more room to focus on education, which is one of the reasons nutrition is overlooked. Another way to ensure nutritional awareness among teachers would be to avoid buying in bulk. This would avoid sacrificing the children’s well-being in order to save. It is very obvious that bulk is less expensive, but the food are also higher in both fat and sugar.
Next I will provide 3 recipes that are kid friendly. First up are Fruit Kabobs. Ingredients: 1 apple, 1 banana, 1/3 c. red seedless grapes, 1/3 c. green seedless grapes, 2/3 cup pineapple chunks, 1 cup nonfat yogurt, and ¼ c. dried coconut, shredded. Utensils: knife (you'll need help from your adult assistant), 2 wooden skewer sticks, and a large plate. Directions:1. Prepare the fruit by washing the grapes, washing the apples and cutting them into small squares, peeling the bananas and cutting them into chunks, and cutting the pineapple into chunks, if it's fresh. Put the fruit onto a large plate. 2. Spread coconut onto another large plate. 3. Slide pieces of fruit onto the skewer and design your own kabob by putting as much or as little of whatever fruit you want! Do this until the stick is almost covered from end to end. 4. Hold your kabob at the ends and roll it in the yogurt, so the fruit gets covered. Then roll it in the coconut. 5. Repeat these steps with another skewer. Nutritional analysis (per serving):141 calories, 3 g fat, 28 g carbohydrate, 3 g fat, 1 mg cholesterol, 2 g saturated fat, 52 mg sodium, 103 mg calcium, 0.5 mg iron, and 3 g fiber (Brinkley, 2009).
Next up is Perfectly Peachy Freeze. Ingredients: ½ c. milk, 1 c. sliced peaches (they can be either fresh or canned), and 1 tsp. sugar Utensils: ice cube tray blender (you'll need help from your adult assistant) and serving dishes. Directions: 1. Pour the milk into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid. 2. Pop the "milk cubes" out of the tray and put them into the blender. Then put the peaches and sugar into the blender.3. Put the lid on the blender and blend on high speed until everything is all mixed together and very smooth. 4. Pour your Perfect Peachy Freeze into serving dishes and serve right away. Serves: 3 Serving size: 4 oz. (½ cup) Nutritional analysis (per serving): 65 calories, 2 g protein, 0 g fat, 15 g carbohydrate, 0 g fiber, 1 mg cholesterol, 25 mg sodium, 53 mg calcium, and 0.3 mg iron (Brinkley, 2009).
And finally here are the Frozen Yogurt Pops. Ingredients: 1 8-oz. container of your favorite flavor of yogurt Utensils: small paper cups wooden popsicle sticks (available in craft stores), and plastic wrap. Directions: 1. Pour yogurt into paper cups. Fill them almost to the top. 2. Stretch a small piece of plastic wrap across the top of each cup. 3. Using the popsicle stick, poke a hole in the plastic wrap. Stand the stick straight up in the center of the cup. 4. Put the cups in the freezer until the yogurt is frozen solid. 5. Remove the plastic wrap, peel away the paper cup, and eat your pop! Serves: 3 to 4 Serving size: 1 pop. Nutritional analysis (per serving): 127 calories, 5 g protein ,2 g fat, 21 g carbohydrate, 0 g fiber, 7 mg cholesterol, 73 mg sodium, 262 mg calcium, and 0 mg iron (Brinkley, 2009).
A strategy to make preparing foods enjoyable for children would be to include them when making foods over the stove. If they can not be a part of the whole ordeal they may not feel that they have helped. Also, we wouldn’t want to risk them trying to cook on a hot stove when unattended.
References
Brinkley, A. (2009). Recipes for kids. Retrieved from http://www.kidshealth.org.
Infant, toddler, and preschool Nutrition. (2003). Retrieved from
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com.
Nutrition for children. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.edietstar.com.
Robertson, C. (2007). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education. Belmont, CA. Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
Emergency Preparedness: Natural and Human-Generated Disasters
Two types of disasters that can occur in my area would be a flood from a severe thunderstorm or a tornado approaching the area in less than ten minutes. My colleagues and I should be prepared because we are I the care of innocent children and we would also want to protect ourselves. If we are not prepared serious injuries or even death could come to both the children and adults. Being prepared for disasters could help save lives.
In the situation of a flood or a tornado, I would asses the risks by paying attention to what season it is. I would factor in whether or not there would be a warning, how far away the siren is, and the likelihood of us hearing the siren clearly. I would also take into consideration how long each disaster might last.
Complications from floods and tornadoes would be the loss of important documentations and power outages. Floods can leave buildings submerged in water for long periods of time . Tornadoes can leave debris that may take several days or weeks to clean up.
In order to prepare for a flood or tornado a water and fireproof portable file should be kept with emergency and health information (Robertson, p. 195). An emergency medical kit should be kept and should include necessary medications for up to three days. Fire drills should be planned and carried out once a month. Children should be taught the “Stop, Drop, Roll, Cool and Call” techniques and practice them. A safe emergency shelter spot should also be chose and prearranged (Robertson, p. 195)
One way to involve the families to aid in preparing their children for disasters would be to invite two parents a month to partake in the drills. Another way would be to have the parents update important information, such as, allergies, medication, and emergency contact numbers, at least once a month. Last but not least, we can provide the parents with safety information in order to practice drill skills in their homes.
In the situation of a flood or a tornado, I would asses the risks by paying attention to what season it is. I would factor in whether or not there would be a warning, how far away the siren is, and the likelihood of us hearing the siren clearly. I would also take into consideration how long each disaster might last.
Complications from floods and tornadoes would be the loss of important documentations and power outages. Floods can leave buildings submerged in water for long periods of time . Tornadoes can leave debris that may take several days or weeks to clean up.
In order to prepare for a flood or tornado a water and fireproof portable file should be kept with emergency and health information (Robertson, p. 195). An emergency medical kit should be kept and should include necessary medications for up to three days. Fire drills should be planned and carried out once a month. Children should be taught the “Stop, Drop, Roll, Cool and Call” techniques and practice them. A safe emergency shelter spot should also be chose and prearranged (Robertson, p. 195)
One way to involve the families to aid in preparing their children for disasters would be to invite two parents a month to partake in the drills. Another way would be to have the parents update important information, such as, allergies, medication, and emergency contact numbers, at least once a month. Last but not least, we can provide the parents with safety information in order to practice drill skills in their homes.
Safety Practices and Policies
Toddlers are probably the developmental group with the most potential for unsafe practices. Small toys should be examined for age appropriateness for the children playing with them. For toddlers, they should be large, unbreakable and smooth. Preventative measures can be taken by separating toys by age group so that younger children are not exposed to toys that may endanger their safety. Toys should also be inspected for any small parts, broken pieces, or sharp surfaces. In the home families can eliminate toys with small parts. Families should also avoid buying soft, plastic toys or metal jewelry. Another measure would be to avoid purchasing toys on the internet from unknown sources, as the toys may have been re-called and are being re-sold.
Electrical outlets can pose a threat to toddlers as they are curious beings. All wall sockets should be covered with difficult to remove plastic plugs. In order to prevent injuries from electrical outlets the covers must be properly installed and used . They should be checked frequently to ensure safety. In order to ensure safety at home, families should place plastic plugs in all sockets, even those where they feel their children can’t reach them. Children should also should not be left unmonitored for long periods of time.
We surely become nervous when a toddler falls. Some falls can be prevented. All doorways that might lead to danger should be shut and lockable. To prevent falls keep any doors from cellars, attics, or porches locked. Remove sharp edged furniture from child’s frequently used area. Families and teachers can show the child the proper way to climb up and down stairs using handrails. Families should also make sure that the child’s shoes are proper fitting and that the strings are secure.
Some toddlers are still exploring with their mouths and are in danger of poisons. All poisons should be labeled and kept in a high, locked place away from children. To prevent accidents all household products, including cosmetics and medicines, should be locked away. Families should have children tested for lead poisoning during regular checkups and the children should be taught the meaning of poison signs. They should also post the poison control number by the phone.
How do we keep our children safe from stairs? Safety gates should be installed where doorways without doors that may lead to danger. To prevent toddlers from crawling up or falling down stairs, all stairways should have safety gates. Families can ensure safety by reading and following the directions when installing safety gates. They should also be checked frequently and should not be used to secure a play area for children.
Electrical outlets can pose a threat to toddlers as they are curious beings. All wall sockets should be covered with difficult to remove plastic plugs. In order to prevent injuries from electrical outlets the covers must be properly installed and used . They should be checked frequently to ensure safety. In order to ensure safety at home, families should place plastic plugs in all sockets, even those where they feel their children can’t reach them. Children should also should not be left unmonitored for long periods of time.
We surely become nervous when a toddler falls. Some falls can be prevented. All doorways that might lead to danger should be shut and lockable. To prevent falls keep any doors from cellars, attics, or porches locked. Remove sharp edged furniture from child’s frequently used area. Families and teachers can show the child the proper way to climb up and down stairs using handrails. Families should also make sure that the child’s shoes are proper fitting and that the strings are secure.
Some toddlers are still exploring with their mouths and are in danger of poisons. All poisons should be labeled and kept in a high, locked place away from children. To prevent accidents all household products, including cosmetics and medicines, should be locked away. Families should have children tested for lead poisoning during regular checkups and the children should be taught the meaning of poison signs. They should also post the poison control number by the phone.
How do we keep our children safe from stairs? Safety gates should be installed where doorways without doors that may lead to danger. To prevent toddlers from crawling up or falling down stairs, all stairways should have safety gates. Families can ensure safety by reading and following the directions when installing safety gates. They should also be checked frequently and should not be used to secure a play area for children.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)