Basic information
This professional development focuses on the issue of healthy eating among young children between the ages of 6-23 months old. According to Parlakian and Lerner (2007), healthy eating is defined as consuming a variety of foods with nutrients necessary for heath and energy provision. Statistically, prevalence of overweight children in this age group rose from 7 to 12% between the year 1976 and 2000 (Parlakian & Lerner, 2007). This is highly like to stem from unhealthy eating among other factors. A child who is used to unhealthy eating is highly likely to carry with them such habits into adulthood, thus, increasing their chances of being overweight in adulthood. Effects of unhealthy eating can be seen in all domains of development of a child.
Effects on various domains of development
There are three primary domains of development namely social, cognitive, and physical domains of development. Healthy eating promotes all the three domains of development. “Children follow rules of societies under adult constraint. Overtime, they internalize these standards and follow them on their own (a process known as identification)” (Week 5 Lecture Notes Slide 5). Using this analogy, children pick unhealthy eating habits in the course of their socialization. This consequently affects their socialization, especially overweight children who cannot develop an identity when they interact with their colleagues who are not overweight and, thus, different from them. Similarly, cognitive development of a child is negatively affected. Unhealthy eating makes it difficult for the brain to get all the necessary nutrients, therefore, slow or improper development of the nervous system and the entire brain. In the same manner, the physical wellbeing of a child between 6 and 23 months is greatly endangered due to such risks of unhealthy eating as obesity and the inability to develop physically properly.
Myths and clarification
One common misconception is that children used to eating certain types of food will highly likely maintain the same type of eating pattern even their adulthood. This is unfounded since in the course of growth and during socialization, children develop an identity (Week 5, Slide 11) where they tend to drop some habits and adopt others that best define their personality. One of the habits they may change is their eating habits. As their tastes change and modify, they may drop their eating habit (healthy or unhealthy) and pick one that best suits their newly acquired identity. Another myth is that during this age group, an overweight child may have the same problem even as an adult. However, Parlakian and Lerner (2007) reports that only children above 3 years (36 months) are likely to be overweight as a young adult if they had the same problem during their childhood.
Suggestions
There are numerous ways through which parents can promote healthy eating among children in this age group. Parlakian and Lerner (2007) proposes five primary suggestions; establishing a regular meal and snack plan for the children especially between the ages of 9-12 months old, offering up to four healthy food choices during each meal, and carrying out relaxed discussions with children about their day-to-day activities. Other suggestions include, being flexible and letting the babies eat and stop when they feel like, making use of the peer pressure and socialization groups to encourage healthy eating, and giving the babies plenty of time to engage in play and use up all the energy before they yearn to replenish it through feeding. During eating time, parents can grab the opportunity and share an intimate time with the child in a manner that encourages them to eat, and in particular, readily accept the food choices that the parent provides for them.
Educational resources related to healthy eating
Healthy eating, not only in children, is a growing area of concern in nutrition, thus, there are innumerable educational resources available for parents and caregivers. A plethora of magazine, books, journals, Television programs, and pamphlets on general nutrition and healthy eating exists all over. In addition, U.S Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and U.S Department of Agriculture, among other organizations often release periodicals and occasional guidelines for healthy eating specific to the children in this age group among others.