Healthy Eating Habits – Magic of the Two Bite Club
Parents are a critical part of the learning process and preschool experience. To keep them informed of their son/daughter’s daily childcare experience, we provide parental updates throughout the day and prepare a daily electronic report that often includes photos. This vigilance and accountability are some of the reasons parents choose us to meet their family’s childcare needs.
A child’s school readiness and the building of a successful early learning foundation is a daily process. Overall success is a result of the child’s daily interaction and intentionally planned early learning experiences. Mealtimes offer numerous opportunities for teachable moments, conversation, and cooperation. Children spend nine to ten hours in care. For one-third of this time, they eat breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Every day we talk about nutrition and the reasons for healthy eating. To teach nutrition, we use USDA MyPlate resources and hands-on-learning. For us, nutritional learning begins with the Two Bite Club book. At enrollment, each family receives a complimentary copy of this book. The book’s “Tips for Growing Healthy Eaters” is a valuable tool and resource. Click here to learn more about the Two Bite Club.
We regularly feature and discuss this book at circle time. It is an integral part of our welcome to the preschool experience. We have found that the children readily connect to the main characters Anna and Will and are eager to learn about the different food groups. In the book, Anna is reluctant to try new food. Her typical response is “Oh no, I don’t think I’ll like it.” Her brother, Will, introduces her to the food groups and encourages her to take two little bites of new food. Using this approach, we find that the children acquire a taste for new foods. Additionally, participation in the Two Bite Club supports the building of self-regulation skills and promotes a team spirit.
Mealtime is a fun, collaborative experience for the children. They are engaged in food preparation, table setup, and table etiquette. It is an inclusive process covering multiple learning domains. For example, the children plant and grow red beans. Later we visit the farmer’s market and see red beans for sale. The next day we include the beans in our meal. The children make connections — a critical step in cognitive development and school readiness. Our job is to provide each child with multi-sensory learning experiences that build connections, skills, confidence, and success. With this background, read our March Newsletter and the spotlight on Leo Derocco! March 2021 Jackson Child Care Newsletter