Physical fitness is one of the important components for keeping are bodies strong and healthy. Our bodies need a balance between food intake and physical activity if not the extra calories that are not used for energy will be stored as fat. To have normal growth children need physical fitness along with a healthy diet (Robertson, 2010). Physical fitness promotes healthy weight, better self-esteem, healthy bones, muscles, and joints. Exercise can help children fell more relaxed and help them sleep better (Health and Wellness, 2006).. As a child becomes physically fit they gain more strength and flexibility and this helps them when they are learning to run, climb, and throw (Robertson, 2010).
Children who do not get physical activity can become obese or overweight. Children can become depressed and develop low self-esteem when they become overweight or obese. They can develop diabetes and be susceptible to other illnesses like a cold or the flu. Children who do not get enough exercise are susceptible to developing high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Adults can help children become physically active by encouraging them with games and fun activities. Preschool children are learning to walk, run, skip, and jump and they can develop these skills through play by watching the other kids and the teacher doing the movements. A teacher can play music throughout the day to get the kids moving and can have the children repeat what she does. To develop their fine motor skills children can play catch and toss where they pass bean bags to each other (Goodway & Robinson, 2006). Children should be taught at an early age all the benefits of exercise and the health issues that can develop with inadequate physical activity.
I believe that it is important for children to be physically active and I have been upset with the decline in the amounts of time that children get physical education in schools. In the early childhood years children do not receive the appropriate amount of experiences to develop fundamental motor skills and may start kindergarten with developmental delays in their motor skills (Goodway & Branta 2003). This quote caught my interest since it has bothered me that we have a rise in obese children, childhood diabetes, and high cholesterol at an early age but we cut back on physical education. Some children only get exercise when they are at school with all the lovely electronic games that teach children to sit all day.
Children who are encouraged to be physically active will develop a healthy habit that will continue through adulthood. Physical activity has so many health benefits and these benefits will stay with us and help us become healthier adults who are less likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Stress can cause a lot physical illnesses such as a low immune system making it harder for the body to fight germs. Physical activity helps children and adults relieve stress and that can help their immune system to become stronger. Exercise can also build protection for the back muscles that help support the spine (Robertson, 2010). Physical fitness helps a child’s self-esteem by releasing endorphins that are a chemical I the brain that is responsible for making people happy and according to Web MD they also act as an analgesics that lessons the affects of pain.
References
Goodway, J.D., & C.F. Branta. 2003. Influence of a motor skill intervention on fundamental
motor skill development of disadvantaged preschool children. Research Quarterly for
Exercise and Sport 74: 36–47.
Goodway, J. D., & Robinson, L. E. (2006, March). SKIPing toward an active start: Promoting
physical activity in preschoolers. Beyond the Journal: Young Children on the Web. Retrieved
http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200605/GoodwayBTJ.pdf
Health and Wellness. (2006). Physical Exercise and Getting a Restful Sleep. Retreived on
October 10, 2010 from
http://www.healthwellness1.com/fitnessexercise/physical-exercise-and-sleep.html
Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Early Education (4th ed).
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Web MD. (2010). Exercise and Depression. Retrieved on October 10, 2010 from
http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/exercise-depression
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Healthy Food and Nutrition
Children need to learn good eating habits and the first 6 years of their life is the most important time to teach them these habits. Infants get their nutrition through breast milk or formula and making sure they get the nutrition they need since they grow at a faster rate in the first year of life than any other time of development. Daycare providers should support the parent who is breastfeeding and allow them to come in to feed or allow them to provide collected breast milk to use while they cannot be with their child (Robertson, 2010).
Toddlers are becoming independent and want to be able to make decisions on their own. This makes it hard to teach good eating habits when there is a battle of control going on. Introducing new foods is the key to teaching children that there are a variety of foods and this gives them a larger choice to get their nutrients from. Children at this age should not be given low fat milk because they need the fat for growth and development (Robertson, 2010). Toddlers should be given little or no juice because it can replace the milk that they need and the sugar in juice has been connected to obesity in children (Robertson, 2010).
Preschool children are at an age where they are becoming more social and are influenced by others and are willing to try new things (Robertson, 2010). The problem with outside influence is the commercials on television that advertise McDonalds and other unhealthy snacks. I have experienced my children seeing a commercial for McDonalds and begging to go there for food mainly for the toy in the happy meal. We try so hard to get our children to eat healthy and commercials make the unhealthy food so tempting. I would tell parents to allow their children to help in planning and preparing a well balanced meal. Children love to feel like their opinion matters and their help is welcome.
Parents and teachers have a responsibility to not only teach good eating habits to children but to set an example by making healthy choices themselves. Children mimic the adults that they look up to and depend on so it is important for us to show that we care about them and their health. Children who eat healthy are less likely to get sick or develop disease like diabetes and their bodies can grow and develop. My children love to help make and prepare meals and this is a good way to get them to make better choices because they feel like they are making the choice themselves. In a busy lifestyle it is important for families to sit down together not only to eat a meal but have conversations with each other about their day. This will provide a positive environment for mealtime.
A teacher can have activities that promote healthy eating such as letting the children plant a vegetable. My children got to plant a cabbage at school and bring it home when it started to grow and we repotted the cabbage into a bigger pot so it could grow.
Healthy recipe ideas for children are a good way to introduce new foods in a fun and exciting way. I found these recipes that I liked and thought my children would enjoy:
Strawberry Shortcake Fruit Pizza
Serves: 1
Cups of fruits and vegetables a serving: ½
Ingredients:
1 English muffin
2 Tablespoons whipped, fat-free strawberry cream cheese
1/3 cup strawberries, sliced
¼ cup red grapes, quartered
¼ cup canned mandarin oranges, drained
Preparation
| Toast the English muffin until golden brown. Spread cream cheese on toasted muffin. Arrange sliced strawberries, grapes, and orange slices on top of the cream cheese. Slice into quarters and you’ll have “yummy fruit pizza”! | ||
| | ||
| Each serving provides: An excellent source of vitamins A and C, and a good source of folate and fiber. | ||
| | ||
| Nutrition Information per Serving: | ||
| Calories: 228 Total Fat: 1.3g Saturated Fat: 0g % of Calories from Fat: 5% % Calories from Saturated Fat: 0% | Protein: 10g Carbohydrates: 46g Cholesterol: 5mg Dietary Fiber: 4g Sodium: 374mg | |
| | | |
| *Only make with the help of an adult! Lemon Meringue’s Tuna Salad Wrap | | |
| Preparation Time: 20 minutes | ||
| | ||
| Serves: 6 | ||
| | ||
| Cups of Fruits and Vegetables per Serving: 1 | ||
| | ||
| Ingredients: 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon curry powder 1/2 cup low-fat lemon yogurt 1 12-oz. can solid white tuna in water, drained 2 cups seedless red grapes, cut in half 2 stalks celery, diced 1/3 cup chopped dates 12 large green or red leaf lettuce leaves, washed and patted dry | ||
| Preparation: In a medium bowl, combine first three ingredients, mix well. Stir in remaining ingredients except lettuce. Mix together well. Place about ½ cup of tuna mixture into center of two lettuce leaves and roll up. Garnish with additional red grapes, if desired. | ||
| | ||
| Each serving provides: An excellent source of vitamins A and C, and a good source of magnesium, potassium and fiber. | ||
| | ||
| Nutrition Information per Serving: | ||
| Calories: 162 Total Fat: 2.2g Saturated Fat: 0.7g % of Calories from Fat: 11% % Calories from Saturated Fat: 4% | Protein: 16g Carbohydrates: 22g Cholesterol: 25mg Dietary Fiber: 2g Sodium: 261mg | |
| | | |
| *Only make with the help of an adult! | | |
Raspberry Torte’s Sunrise Parfait
| Preparation Time: 15 minutes | ||
| Serves: 4 | ||
| | ||
| Cups of Fruits and Vegetables per Serving: ½ | ||
| | ||
| Ingredients: · 2 cups canned pineapple tidbits or chunks in 100% fruit juice, drained · 1 cup (1/2 pint) raspberries (fresh or frozen) · 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt · 1 medium banana, sliced · 1/3 cup dates, chopped · 1/4 cup granola | ||
| Preparation: Layer the pineapple, raspberries, yogurt, banana, and dates in parfait glasses. Sprinkle the granola on top and serve. | ||
| | ||
| Each serving provides: An excellent source of vitamin C and fiber, and a good source of calcium and potassium. | ||
| | ||
| Nutrition Information per Serving: | ||
| Calories: 206 Total Fat: 1.5g Saturated Fat: 0.6g % of Calories from Fat: 6% % Calories from Saturated Fat: 3% | Protein: 5g Carbohydrates: 48g Cholesterol: 3mg Dietary Fiber: 5g Sodium: 52mg | |
| | | |
| *Only make with the help of an adult! | References Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, NReferences utrition, and Health in Early Education (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. | |
3. CPR and Choking Emergencies
A 3 year old child was eating a grape for lunch and started grabbing at her throat and gasping for air so I asked her if she was choking and she nodded yes. I would check to see if there is any visible object in the child’s mouth and then I would immediately do the Heimlich maneuver because the child wasn’t breathing. The Heimlich maneuver is done by standing behind the victim and making a fist you place the inside of your thumb against the victim’s abdomen just above the belly button and give quick thrusts by pushing in and upward at the same time until the object comes out or until they are unconscious and you will start CPR (Flegel, 2008). .I would call for one of the other preschool teachers to help with the other children. The mayo clinic website says that you do not use a blind sweep for an object blocking the airway and only remove an item that you can see. I would keep doing the Heimlich until the object was removed or advanced medical personnel arrive. I would reassure the child as I am giving the Heimlich that everything would be fine and that help is on the way. As soon as there is help I would have them contact the child’s parents or legal guardian I would have one of the teachers take over while I rode with the child to the hospital that the parent requested on the emergency form. I would reassure the child on the ride to the hospital and let them know we contacted their parent and they would be there soon. When the parent got there I would let them know what happened and let them know I am there if they need anything. When I returned I would fill out a report and assess the situation to see if there was anything that could have been done to keep the incident from happening such as cutting up the grapes into four pieces to minimize a choking hazard. A letter could be sent home to parents letting them know of the foods that are choking hazards and if they must send grapes they could cut them up.
The preschool that I work at always has a person who works in the office and we have phones in every room to call her with if we need her help. I also have my cell phone in the room with me in case I need to use it in an emergency. It does help to have a plan as to what steps to take in case of an emergency and training every employee in first aid and CPR should be a requirement for all daycares, preschools, and schools. At the beginning of the year we have parents fill out an emergency form with all numbers and people we can reach in case of an emergency. They can request what hospital they prefer.
Another case is a 5 year old falls off the ladder to the slide on the playground and is unconscious and not breathing. I would check all senses and I would avoid moving the child in case there is an injury to the neck or head. I check the child’s pulse and if there is no pulse I would start CPR immediately and I would ask one of the other teachers to call 911. I would continue to give CPR until the child starts breathing or until emergency personnel arrive. I would get back up for my class and would accompany the child to the hospital and would stay until the parents arrive and answer their questions if they have any and then I would leave.
When I returned I would fill out a report and then assess the situation to see if something could be done to avoid the fall from happening. I would check to see if playground equipment was wet that day or if there was any horseplay involved in the child falling by asking other children what they saw. Some of the children wear sandals and they could be a reason that the child slipped if she was wearing them that day. If sandals were the issue the preschool may look into banning sandals that do not have straps to keep them on because they can be dangerous on the playground equipment.
A childhood education program should prepare for emergency situations and should have a first aid kit kept up to date and on hand everywhere they would go (Robertson, 2010). Emergency numbers should be posted in the facility by the phones or where the teacher can see them quickly in an emergency.
References
Flegel, M. (2008). Sport First aid: A coach’s guide to the care and prevention of athletic
Injuries (4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics
Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Early Education (4th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
The Mayo Clinic Staff (2009). Choking: First Aid. Retrieved on September 25, 2010 from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-choking/FA00025
2. Emergency Preparedness
The most common disaster that occurs in West Virginia is flooding according to FEMA. Flooding occurs at least once a year in our area and has been responsible for damaging homes and taking lives. In the early childhood setting it is important to understand the dangers of rising waters and how fast one can be trapped and even swept away by the fast moving water. A professional should have a plan mapped out to get the children to higher ground if their parents cannot be reached in time. The professionals should require emergency contact list in the event there is a disaster and they should have a first aid kit that is up to date and having flotation devices in areas that is prone to flooding. To assess the situation for risk I would look at the geographical area to see if the facility is low and near water such as a lake or a river (Robertson, 2010). I would look for areas around the property that pose a risk or provide a place for protection such as higher ground. I would make sure I had a cell phone and had all the cell phone numbers of the children’s parents. Do they children in my care have any disabilities or are they able to walk.
Another risk in our area is severe storms that can cause damage due to high winds. In the event of a storm I would have a plan that I have went over with the children of the safe areas to be in the building. Children should be away from windows and if possible move to a basement or room in the middle of the building without windows. I would assess the area for potential risks such as power lines or trees that could fall on the facility. I would make sure there is a first aid kit that is up to date and a fire extinguisher in case lightening would cause the building to catch on fire. The plan of action would include an evacuation route that the children would be taught and have practiced during drills to prepare for an emergency.
In the case there is an emergency it is better to be prepared so you have the supplies that you might need and it will also help the employees to feel less panicked if they know what to do. The children will be looking to the adults and will respond to their reactions and if the adults look like they are confident and have things under control this will help the children to feel less anxious and scared. If you are not prepared it would be a chaotic mess and the workers and children would all be panicked and stressed and could lead to injuries or death because no one knew what to do to keep everyone safe.
References
FEMA. (2010). West Virginia Disaster History. Retreived September 19, 2010 from
Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Early Education (4th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
1. Safety Practices and Policies
In a preschool setting one of the most common injuries is due to falls and most could have been prevented through proper supervision and safety rules (Robertson, 2010). Children should be given a set of safety rules that must be sent home and signed by the parent and student and then the teacher can go over the rules to make sure they understood them. It wouldn’t hurt for the teacher to keep enforcing the rules since young children need to be reminded. Giving parents a booklet on indoor safety can help them to recognize potential risks they may not have thought about.
A safety policy that is set in place at the preschools and public schools is a form that must be filled out by parents that has a list of people that have permission to pick your child up from school. A parent may send in a note if they need their child picked up by someone that is not on the list. There are so many abductions in the United States that is important to make sure we know we are sending the children with an adult that is safe. Send home brochures or pamphlets teaching children about strangers and what to do if a stranger approaches them.
Preschool children are at an age where they can do more physically but do not understand the risks factors that are involved. At this age the children are risk takers and need to be supervised. It is the job of the teacher to make sure they have provided a safe environment indoors and outdoors for the children. Play ground equipment should be safe and age appropriate with a surface cushioning of mulch, sand, or pea gravel (Robertson, 2010). Providing children with a list of outdoor safety rules that must be sent home and signed by a parent that they went over the rules with their child. This will also make the parent aware of the hazards of outdoor play at their own homes.
Preschool children are still in danger of choking and should not be allowed to run or hoarse play with food or gum in their mouths. Children should be provided an area where they have a table to sit at while they are eating. I have had preschool children put toys or other items in their mouths that you would only think a baby or toddler do. Sending home safety brochures that are geared for preschool age children would help make the parents aware of potential choking hazards. A teacher should tell a parent if their child puts things in their mouth at school and explain to the parent how it was dealt with and they may chose to do the same at home.
This brings me to another safety issue because preschoolers like to explore and experiment all the cleaning chemicals or anything that is a potential risk should be locked up or out of reach of children. Stickers should be on poisonous items and children are to be taught to recognize the sign and that it means the item is dangerous and should not be touched. Parents should be sent home a brochure of poison hazards with stickers for chemicals and a poison control number. I have gotten these from my children when they were younger.
Parents need to be aware of the dangers in and outside of their homes. If there are creeks, streams, or other areas with water that presents a risk of drowning they need to have a fence that is childproof. Medications should be out of the reach of children and it would be safer if the parent buys a container that locks to put the medications in. Parents should install safety devices such as safety gates and latches where there is a risk of falls or injury and outlets should be covered (Robertson, 2010).
References
Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Early Education (4th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
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