In early childhood, children experience periods of rapid development and growth where proper nutrition plays a pivotal role in shaping the foundation for a child’s overall health and wellbeing. The nutrients children receive during this time can have a lasting impact on health outcomes, particularly as children develop physical, cognitive and emotional skills. At Young Academics we’re here to help you navigate this period with ease. As part of our curriculum, we ensure children are exposed to the building blocks of healthy eating habits.

The best eating pattern for children takes into consideration their age, activity level and other characteristics. When making informed decision on your child’s meals, ensure you have a basic understanding of nutrient dense foods including Protein, Carbohydrates, healthy fats, dairy and fruits/vegetables.

Brain Development

During the early years, the brain undergoes significant growth where nutrients such as iron, zinc and omega 3 fatty acids are essential for optimal brain development. These nutrients support the formation of neural pathways, ensuring children have the capacity and cognitive ability to problem solve, learn, and memorise. The brain growth of children depends critically on the quality of their nutrition.

Physical Growth

Growing bodies need adequate nutrition to stay healthy and maintain energy levels. The intake of macronutrients and micronutrients are vital for bone development, muscle growth and overall physical wellbeing. A well-balanced diet will assist children in reaching milestones such as height and weight goals. Remember that children are also what they eat – so not getting essential nutrients can be detrimental to children’s health.

Immune Support

Proper nutrition plays a significant role in supporting children’s immune systems, which is particularly important in childcare settings, helping them to fight diseases and infections. Foods high in vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, and antioxidants ensure a robust immune response ensuring your child is less susceptible to illness.

Emotional & Behavioural Development

Nutrition plays a large role in the behavioural and emotional development of children where a balanced and nutrient rich diet helps to create a stable foundation for positive behaviours and emotional resilience. Neurotransmitters are associated with regulating behaviour and moods where for example Omega 3 fatty acids have been linked to improve emotional wellbeing. Sugar and malnutrition often cause negative behaviour which can lead to interruptions in learning.

Establishing Healthy Eating Habits

Early childhood is a crucial time for shaping lifelong healthy habits and routines. This is a great time to expose children to a variety of nutritious foods and establish healthy relationships with food early on.

Choosing a nutrition-focused childcare

At Young Academics, we are focused on the holistic growth and development of each child, with health and nutrition a top priority for us. We understand our early learning environments play a pivotal role in exposing children to a variety of nourishing foods and promoting healthy eating habits for life. Our holistic Nutrition Program allows children to take part in preparing and serving their meals and learn about the important connection between hygiene, physical activity, and healthy eating. Contact us to enrol now or learn more about our Nutrition Program.

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How Nutrition plays a crucial role in early childhood development