Why is nutrition in the early years so important?
The nutrition children receive in their first 1000 days (from conception to two years) can have a positive influence on how they develop, grow and learn – not just now but for their whole life.
Encouraging children to eat well and learn about food in their early years not only protects their health when they are young, but also sets the foundations for their future health and wellbeing. According to Nyaradi, A et al (2013) and Infant and Toddler Forum (2014), Good nutrition can positively influence a child’s:
- concentration
- physical development
- learning outcomes
- behaviour
- cognitive development
- long term future health.
What practitioners should understand about what pre-school children should be eating
Healthy eating for pre-school children is crucial for their growth and physical development. During these formative years it is important to make sure they are eating well to get all the energy and nutrients they need. This is an important time for children to learn about food so that they develop good eating habits that will carry through into later life.
An understanding of what pre-school children should be eating and in what amounts is helpful for parents, carers and early years practitioners.
New training course - Providing a Healthy Food Environment in Early Years Settings
EduCare's was written by experts at the Early Years Nutrition Partnership in conjunction with the Pre-school Learning Alliance and contains a range of helpful tips and tricks for providing healthy food at mealtimes and for lunch boxes.
The course costs £29.50 + VAT to buy online or can be accessed by Pre-School Learning Alliance members for free as part of their membership package.
Get in touch to find out more.
Infection Prevention and Control in an Early Years Setting
The course looks at what infection prevention and control means in an early years setting and provides an overview of good practice for cleaning procedures and a summary of key terms associated with infection prevention and control.
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New online training course to help Early Years practitioners get to grips with EYFS
The Pre-school Learning Alliance and EduCare have launched a new online training course designed to support both new and experienced practitioners in their understanding and implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework in their provision.
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