Strategies For Educators

Strategies for Educators

Early childhood is a time to teach children social, emotional, and academic skills. It’s also an amazing opportunity to promote lifelong healthy habits. When we talk about healthy physical development, we think of three key areas: children’s eating habits, their levels of physical activity and sedentary activity, and whether or not they’re getting adequate sleep. Entry to early childhood programs provides an important opportunity for intervention because children eat meals in the classroom with teachers, there are opportunities to promote physical activity throughout the day, and for full-day programs with naptime – opportunities to promote healthy sleep habits. You are in a powerful position to help children develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime!

Here are some strategies to help you think about health behaviors in your classroom. Some of them will seem familiar, or be things you are already doing – and others may seem surprising. Which practices seem relevant and useful for your classroom?

HOPE Best Practices for Early Childhood Educators

1. OFFER VARIETY: Serve a variety of new and familiar fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. After 10-15 exposures, most preschoolers will accept and enjoy new foods.
   
   
2. BE CONSISTENT: Serve meals at the same time every day.
   
   
3. DRINK TO HEALTH: Give children 4 to 6 cups of water throughout the day, especially after active play. Serve low-fat or non-fat milk, limit fruit juice to one serving, and never offer soda to preschoolers.
   
   
4. CREATE CALM: Turn off the TV and get rid of other distractions during meals and snack times to encourage mindful eating. Relax and enjoy eating together.
   
   
5. DON’T JUDGE: Let kids decide how much to eat of the healthful foods you offer. Avoid “clean plate rules,” and rewarding or punishing kids for what they choose to eat.
   
   
6. TALK HEALTH, NOT LOOKS: Talk with kids about building healthy, strong bodies. Avoid messages about being fat or thin or having an “ideal” body size.
   
   
7. LISTEN: Encourage children to express feelings and help them problem-solve so they don’t need to “eat their feelings” or rely on food for comfort.
   
   
8. DON’T USE FOOD: Do not give or take away food as a reward or punishment for good or bad behavior. HOPE’s Helpful Hints for Rewards to use in the Classroom and Consequences to use in the Classroom.
   
   
9. PROMOTE PLAY: Make sure children have at least one hour of active play each day. Limit TV and other screen time to 2 hours each day. See HOPE’s Helpful Hints for Physical Activity Schedules, Movement Activities, and Active Transitions
   
   
10. SCHEDULE SLEEP: Make sure preschoolers get the 11 to 13 hours of sleep they need.

Download PDF of HOPE Best Practices.

HOPE’s Helpful Hints for Promoting Healthy Habits in the Classroom:

Physical Activity Schedules
Movement Activities
Active Transitions
Rewards to use in the Classroom
Consequences to use in the Classroom