Teaching Healthy Habits: Nutrition and Exercise for Preschoolers 

In Australia, 1 in 4 children are overweight or obese. Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of fat and is caused when there is an imbalance between calorie consumption and caloric expenditure. To avoid childhood obesity becoming prevalent in our youngest generation, it is fundamentally important to teach preschoolers healthy habits when it comes to nutrition and exercise. Teaching children about these two topics ensures they have an understanding of healthy eating and exercise habits as they grow older and can help to avoid childhood obesity. 

The Impact of Early Nutrition on Preschoolers 

Preschoolers are at an age where they are developing faster than they will for the rest of their life. Good nutrition ensures proper physical and mental development in contrast to cases where youngsters are eating too much salt, sugar and fat. In these cases, their development can be hindered and they can quickly become overweight. A nutrient-rich diet for preschoolers most certainly must include a healthy mix of protein, carbohydrates and minerals. A small portion of meat combined with rice, pasta or mashed potato should be complemented with a serving of vegetables to ensure healthy early childhood development. A fruit salad is an excellent dessert option. 

Strategies for Promoting Healthy Eating in Preschoolers 

One of the most crucially important ways to teach preschoolers healthy eating is to set a strong example. When children have been fully weaned and are eating solids, they should be eating the same food as their parents! The only difference between your own plate and your children’s plate should be the size of the meal served upon it. If your children are fussy, it can help to involve them in the process of preparing and serving food. By doing this you establish an element of control they then have over what they eat. Playing games during mealtime can also be a helpful distraction when children are refusing to eat what they are served. 

The Benefits of Regular Exercise for Preschoolers 

As any parent knows, children can seem to have endless energy at times. Including physical activity in their routines is a really important thing to do to ensure they are expending as many calories as they consume. Exercise is also crucial for childrens’ developing motor skills. By running around, jumping up and down and dragging an endless supply of colourful toys behind them, they develop their ability to move their body and navigate in their environment and manipulate small objects. Exercise should be fun and enjoyable for children. Incorporating toys and games into an exercise routine is the best way to ensure children love exercising regularly. 

Incorporating Exercise into the Preschool Curriculum 

At Robyn Taylor Early Childhood Centre, we keep a safe and stimulating environment for your children to learn nutrition and exercise routines in. If you would like to learn more about the Robyn Taylor Teaching Method, book a tour of our education centre or enrol your child, please use our contact page to reach out to us or call on 02 9705 8309.