Monday, September 17, 2012


Good nutrition is so important in a child’s life.  Cognitive development is a term that covers human perception, thinking, and learning.  Nutrition, genes, and environment are three major factors impacting cognitive development (www.nfsmi.org).  As a caregiver for children it is our role to provide and encourage children to eat nutritious food.  We also can introduce them to new foods, food out of the ordinary.  Children are more likely to eat what they see their caregiver eating which is a way to encourage variety and those new foods.  Children love raisins and marshmallows.  Unfortunately, celery is not a well-liked food.  But by making “Ant on a Log” and allowing the children to decorate it with the marshmallows or raisins children usually will eat their creativity.

The effect of nutrition on the brain begins before birth – with the nutrition of the mother.  Undernutrition and the resulting negative effects on brain development during pregnancy and the first two years of life may be permanent and irreversible (www.nfsmi.org).  Children who lack good nutrition have low levels of energy.  They have no interest in playing for long periods of time or interacting with other children who are energetic.  Poor nutrition provides the energy and nutrients people need to meet their physical and mental potential.  Proper nutrition fuels the body, which gives children the energy they need to play and exercise. (www.livestrong.com). 

The reason good nutrition is meaningful to me is believe it or not there are children suffer from poor nutrition.  I know for certain the children I provide care for do at least receive one nutritious meal while in my care.  Depending on the time frame they’re in my care they may receive two or three nutritious meals.  As a future director of my day care facility my goal is to push nutrition knowing the lasting impact it has on the child as a whole.

References

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