Educators and Child Care Providers Bridging the Gap Between School and Home for Better Eating
Too often, the current conversation about nutrition boils down to finger-pointing between parents and educators. It’s time to establish a working partnership dedicated to helping children develop a lifelong healthy relationship with food.
More and more, a large part of teaching children to eat right is falling to early childhood educators. In the US, 75% of young children currently attend some type of day care or preschool where they consume up to three-quarters of their daily calories and nutrients (JAMA, 2008). In addition, according to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine (January, 2014), obesity is established early in life and experts agree that prevention must start with children under the age of 5.
Teaching kids to eat right is much harder than just giving them a balanced meal or snack and expecting them to eat it. In her workshops, Dina discusses solutions to the most common feeding problems in the classroom and child care center. She provides techniques for building a bridge between parents and educators to make teach children to have a happy and healthy relationship with food easier, more fun and more successful.
Dina’s professional development presentations for educators outline a habits-based approach to feeding children, and have qualified for continuing education credits across the country.
- Making the mindshift from nutrition to habits.
- What is “normal” eating in early childhood.
- 3 Habits Every Preschooler Needs to Learn
- Creating a Classroom Culture that supports and teaches healthy eating
- Using Center Time, Circle Time, Snack Time to teach Habits
- Growing Good Tasters
- What to say (and not to say) to support healthy eating
- Classroom activities
- Improving snack menus while staying on budget
- Bridging school and home: Getting Parents Onboard
- Talking points for discussing healthy eating habits with parents
- Building collaborative strategies and solutions between teachers and parents
- Handouts for parents to continue the education about good eating habits at home
I am the Director of The Palmer School, a NAEYC accredited childcare center in Bernardsville, NJ. I attended your workshop, “Three Eating Habits Translating Nutrition into Behavior,” at the NJAEYC Conference in October and thought it was outstanding! You were a great speaker and I found your information fascinating and informative.
— Peggy Katzenbergerd, The Palmer School, Bernardsville, NJ 07924
I’m an early childhood educator and a parent of 3 teenagers. I wanted you to know not only has your book changed the way my family approaches food (especially with one child with sensory issues), it also has been a great tool for my classroom. I use your approach with food in my 3 year old class as well as with parents. Just this week during a conference, a parent through her tears started talking about how challenging feeding was in addition to her own personal struggles with eating disorders. I handed your book and explained your background and approach. The parent was eating every word and seemed to relax just by having the tools placed in her hands. Thanks for giving me the tools to help these parents. If you ever need a review or guest blog, I’m your girl. Real help for real families. I can’t thank you enough.
-Peggie Bobo, SmallKidsBigIdeas.com
Join the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Goddard Schools, Columbus Preschool, Morrow Memorial Preschool, Yours for Children, SENDCAA Child & Adult Care Food Program and others and start using the #RoseHabits to give kids a healthy, happy relationship with food.
Resource sheets for teaching students and parents healthy eating habits.
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