NUTRITIONAL & OTHER NEEDS OF PRESCHOOLERS

PRESCHOOLERS ARE WHAT THEY EAT  Providing your preschooler with healthy, nutritional snacks and meals assures that their bodies are getting the nutrients that will help their bodies grow and development.  To help children learn to eat healthy portions give them only small portions and then they can go back for more if they are still hungry this way they learn to eat only an appropriate amount of each food item.

PRESCHOOLERS ARE WHAT THEY EAT  Avoid feeding your preschooler foods that have empty calories but supply energy. Foods with added sugars and fats usually provide no nutritional value but high caloric intake.  Eating lots of empty calories can cause a child to become overweight and their bodies are not receiving the nutrients needed for good brain and organ development.  Being overweight can cause problems later in life if your child continues to eat unhealthy foods and become obese.

HEALTHY FOOD ATTITUDES  As a parent you are forming the food attitudes your preschooler will have for the rest of their life. It is important that they learn to eat correctly.  There are lots of choices in each food group so children should be able to find foods that they like and still get the nutritional value they need.

HEALTHY FOOD ATTITUDES  Forcing children to eat foods that they don’t like may cause them to have negative attitudes towards eating healthy.  Using food as a reward or punishment is also not a great idea for parents.  Preschoolers model the eating habits of those around them. It is important as the caregiver to provide your child with a good role model of eating nutritious meals and snacks.

FOODS FOR PRESCHOOLERS  Present preschoolers with foods that have visual appeal. Make sure you have different colors on your plate, different textures, and make sure to leave some empty places so that your child does not feel overwhelmed.  Make sure that you keep the foods separate of the child’s plate because some children do not like their foods mixed up.

FOODS FOR PRESCHOOLERS  Be sure that the food the temperature of the food you serve is not extreme. Super cold or hot foods do not encourage good eating habits in your child they refuse to eat.  Try and vary the way that you cook foods for your preschoolers. Preschoolers may like a food cooked one way but not another. They may like raw carrots but not cooked ones so give them a variety.

FOODS FOR PRESCHOOLERS  Offer your preschooler new foods but in small amounts. Have them try at least a bite of each type of food presented to them so they know their own likes and dislikes.  Foods should be offered more than once to give the preschooler the opportunity to try them  Try and serve bite-size and finger foods because most preschooler cannot cut their own food yet.

MEALTIME SHOULD BE FUN  Having your child help you prepare the meals may make them enjoy them more. Cooking can help your child learn many things that will be helpful to them in the future. Math, measuring, science, different colors, shapes and textures.  Mealtime should be a time to relax, share and enjoy each others company. Set good examples at mealtime so your preschooler can see how they should act.

CLOTHING FOR PRESCHOOLERS  Clothing is to provide the child’s body with protection from the weather, cuts, and scrapes. Clothing also provides a learning experience for your child as they learn to pick out their own clothes, zip their zippers, button their buttons and tie their own shoes.

CLOTHING FOR PRESCHOOLERS  Allow your preschooler to help choose their garments.  Clothing should fit the child appropriately but also give them freedom to move.  Clothing worn outside in the dark should have reflector strips and hoods should easy detach.

CLOTHING FOR PRESCHOOLERS  The following features are helpful for children to learn how to dress themselves. 1) Slip-over garments to pull easily over their heads. 2) Garments that are easy to tell front from back by labels or tags 3) Front openings make it easier to dress themselves 4) Elastic waistbands and sleeves 5) Easy to work fasteners such as zippers with large pull tabs 6) Shoes with Velcro traps to help with getting them on and off.

SHOES Most preschoolers grow about one shoe size every 4 months.  Besides size caregivers need to check for the following when purchasing shoes for their preschooler: 1) Activity shoes – these shoes should be flexible and have a thicker sole to help absorb the pounding of running, jumping and walking of your preschooler 2) Sneakers and athletic shoes – make sure the arch support is in the correct position and try on with proper socks

SHOES 3) Sandals – make sure they have adjustable straps 4) Dress shoes – make sure sole is flexible and that they are worn for short period of time due to thin soles.

HYGIENE  Creating good hygiene practice is important for later in life. Make sure to encourage your child to bathe, wash their hands, brush their teeth and take time for restroom breaks  Toileting accidents occur most often at this age because children wait too long to go the restroom. Give children reminders to go to lessen this from happening.  Most children will outgrow accidents by the time they reach school age.

DENTAL HYGIENE  Preschoolers are more prone to cavities because of their poor eating habits and hygiene.  As parents/caregivers you should make sure that your child brushes their teeth at least twice a day to help prevent plaque buildup.  Preschoolers may need help in learning how to properly brush their teeth and often reminders to brush will also help in preventing tooth decay and cavities.

REST AND SLEEP  Preschoolers need about hours of sleep every day. Most preschoolers have given up naptime so they play hard and need to rest equally as hard.  Preschoolers still need a bedtime ritual. They enjoy the time spent with an adult around bedtime whether it is just to tuck them in or read them a story.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PROGRAMS AVAILABLE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE.  PUBLIC EDUCATION PRESCHOOLS ARE FUNDED BY LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MONEY  PRIVATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE OWNED BY INDIVIDUALS OR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

STATE LICENSING LAWS SET THE STANDARDS FOR ALL ASPECTS OF CHILD CARE PROGRAMS AND/OR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS. THESE LAWS COVER AREAS SUCH AS:  STAFFING QUALIFICATIONS  NUMBER OF CHILDREN PER TEACHER  BUILDING AND OUTSIDE REQUIREMENTS  FOOD SERVICES  BASIC PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

 STAFFING QUALIFICATIONS USUALLY INCLUDE BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND DEPENDING ON THE POSTION, COULD INCLUDE CERTIFICATIONS OR EDUCATIONAL DEGREES.  NUMBER OF CHILDREN PER TEACHER IS A STATE LAW THAT MEANS THERE HAS TO BE A TEACHER PER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF STUDENTS RATIO. SO IF YOU HAVE OVER 5 STUDENTS YOU NEED 2 TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM, ETC.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS  BUILDING AND OUTSIDE REQUIREMENTS CAN INCLUDE PROPER SANITARY CONDITIONS, FIRE CODE REGULATIONS, LARGE ENOUGH AREAS FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY, ETC.  FOOD SERVICE REQUIREMENTS ARE STRINGENT. A HOT MEAL HAS TO BE PROVIDED THAT MEETS THE DAILY MY PLATE REQUIREMENTS AND ALSO SNACKS HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SAME GUIDELINES.  BASIC PROGRAM ACTIVITIES WILL VARY FOR EACH FACILITY BUT INCLUDE BASIC PLAY AREAS, COMPUTER CENTERS, ART, BOOKS, AND BLOCK BUILDING.