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Module 21: Health and Nutrition in A Child's Development

Proper nutrition is essential for a child's cognitive and physical development. Research shows that good prenatal nutrition, breastfeeding, adequate iron and iodine intake are linked to higher IQs and better cognitive outcomes in children. Poor nutrition can cause developmental delays and health issues. Parents should provide nutritious meals and snacks, limit junk food, read food labels, and be good role models through their own healthy eating habits to support their child's nutrition needs. Physical activity is also important and should be encouraged daily.

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Şterbeţ Ruxandra
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131 views

Module 21: Health and Nutrition in A Child's Development

Proper nutrition is essential for a child's cognitive and physical development. Research shows that good prenatal nutrition, breastfeeding, adequate iron and iodine intake are linked to higher IQs and better cognitive outcomes in children. Poor nutrition can cause developmental delays and health issues. Parents should provide nutritious meals and snacks, limit junk food, read food labels, and be good role models through their own healthy eating habits to support their child's nutrition needs. Physical activity is also important and should be encouraged daily.

Uploaded by

Şterbeţ Ruxandra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module 21 : Health and

Nutrition in a Child’s
Development

Student Objectives:
To learn about the research that supports health and
nutrition in childhood development
To learn about what nutrition is
To learn why proper nutrition is important
To learn about the negative and positive effects of
nutrition
To understand how parents and carers can support healthy
nutrition

21.1 Introduction
The relationship between cognitive health
and nutrition is a strong one, and it is
important for parents and carers to
understand this connection.

As we have seen thus far in this course, cognitive development


is the way the brain perceives, thinks, and learns. The three
main factors that impact human cognitive development are
genes, the environment, and nutrition. Since there are so many
factors that go into cognitive development, however, it is
unrealistic to believe that if a person eats a specific thing,
that they will get smarter. This module will look at the
overall role that nutrition plays in a child’s development,
and what parents and carers can do to improve the way children
get nutrition.

21.2 The Research on Nutrition and


Child Development
The role of nutrition in child development
is extremely important.

Nutrition during the early years of the life of a child is


linked to the quality of life they have in the future. For
instance, there are a number of research studies that focus on
the relationship between eating breakfast and more effective
learning. There is also research that supports the link
between good nutrition in the infant and toddler stage and
positive cognitive development as they grow. Here are some of
the major findings from researchers that link good nutrition
and cognitive development.

Brain Effects
Research shows that good nutrition during pregnancy is
imperative as the brain begins to develop whilst the baby is
in the womb. If a mother does not eat a nutritious diet during
pregnancy, it can result in negative effects on the
development of the brain. It can even cause negative effects
that are irreversible and permanent.

Breast Feeding and IQ


Research also shows that children who are breastfed have more
cognitive development and a higher IQ.
Although the research is wide and well grounded, caution needs
to be given as there are many variables that can affect this
such as; cultural and socio-economic contexts.

Additionally, breast feeding can lead to less often and less


severe cases of diarrhoea, skin rashes, bacterial meningitis,
and ear infections.

Iron and Brain Development


Iron is a highly necessary part of the brain tissue, and
research shows that nerve impulses move much more slowly when
there is not enough iron in the brain. In the case of a child,
iron deficiency can cause permanent brain damage. However,
there is also the issue of too much iron in the brain. Both
can cause issues with child behaviour and psychomotor
development. Parents and carers must ensure that children are
getting the appropriate amount of iron in their diets.

Iodine Deficiency
Iodine is another important nutrient that children need.
Research shows that iodine deficiency in a child’s early years
causes reduced cognition and lower achievement when the child
enters school.

Poor Nutrition and Illness


Research also supports the fact that children who do not get
the right nutrients in their diets have more difficulty
fighting infection when compared to their peers. This means
that they are sick more often, miss more school, and have
difficulties keeping up in the classroom.

Undernutrition in Children
Children who do not get enough nutrition often show decreased
activity levels, curiosity, social interactions, and cognitive
functioning.
Breakfast and School
In studies, children who ate a nutritious breakfast performed
better on tests than those who did not eat breakfast or who
ate a poor breakfast.

21.3 What is Nutrition?


Nutrition is everything that a person
consumes, and some of the food and drink
that we choose to ingest are better for us
than others.

Our bodies use the nutrients from food in order to stay


healthy. These include protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, fats,
and minerals. When eaten in the correct amounts, these
nutrients give a child the energy to learn, grown, and move.

It is important for parents and carers to be aware of how much


energy is in the food that a child consumes. A child needs a
certain amount of energy to develop and grow, but if they get
too much, the body will store that energy as fat.

FACT
The role of nutrition in human development begins while a
child is still in the womb. If a pregnant mother does not
practise or adopt healthy eating behaviours, it is possible
that it can have negative effects on the development of the
baby’s brain once the child is born.

Source: CPD

21.4 Why is Proper Nutrition So


Important?
If a child gets poor nutrition, they will
likely develop health problems such as
obesity.

Some of the health issues associated with obesity are quite


serious, especially as the child develops into an adult.
Parents and carers should teach their children healthy eating
habits from the start, as these can help to prevent serious
health problems from developing. Additionally, it is much
easier for people to maintain a weight that is healthy than to
lose weight.

Children who have a healthy weight are more likely to be at a


healthy weight as an adult.

Effects of Obesity in Children


There are a number of negative effects that might occur in
obese children:

Diabetes
Heart disease
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Asthma
Sleep apnoea
Depression
Some types of cancer
Self-esteem issues
Bullying
Difficulties with learning
Difficulties with interacting with other people
Feelings of isolation

Effects of Good Nutrition in Children


On the other hand, there are a number of good effects that
come from proper nutrition.

These include:

Mental wellbeing
Strong muscles and bones
Healthy weight
Ability to concentrate and learn
Good energy
Faster wound healing
Ability to fight off disease and illness
Easier recovery following injury or illness
Decreased risk of stroke, heart disease, cancer,
diabetes, and bone disease in the future

Take a Quick Recap Test

21.5 Helping a Child Make Healthy


Food Choices
By teaching a child about nutrition and
encouraging them to follow healthy eating
habits, parents and carers will be giving
their children important tools that they can
use for their lifetime.

Here are some ways that adults can help children make healthy
food choices:

Offer Healthy Food at Home


It is important to have a number of healthy food options
available at home, and parents and carers should have a
variety of healthy choices. Persistence is important, and this
is not something that a child will learn, or possibly even
accept, overnight.

Some ways that a parent or carer can support good nutrition


include:

Offering several food options each day, such as


different fruits and vegetables. Allow a child to choose
the fruits and vegetables that they want at the
supermarket
If fresh fruits and vegetables are not available, seek
out tinned fruit that is in natural juice, not heavy
syrup
Offer healthy protein sources such as eggs, fish, nuts,
and lean meat, such as chicken or turkey
Offer whole-grain bread and cereal
Grill, steam, or broil foods instead of frying in oil
Offer low-fat dairy, such as cheese and milk
Encourage the child to drink milk or water instead of
sugary or fizzy drinks

Limit Takeaways and Junk Food


Parents and carers should also limit takeaway and other non-
nutritious food. Instead, opt for snacks such as crisps that
are baked or pretzels. Though takeaway doesn’t have to be
totally avoided, parents should choose the healthiest options
for their children, such as fruit or salads instead of chips.

Read Food Labels


Parents and carers should also read and understand food
labels. There is a lot of information on food labels including
energy, fat, saturates, salt, and sugar.

UK food labels have colour coded information when it comes to


fats, saturates, salt, and sugar. If the amount is in green,
it is low, amber is medium, and red is high.
So, if a food has a green colour under the fat label, it means
it is low in fat. If the label for sugar is red, it means that
it is high in sugar. Teaching children about labelling when
shopping is a great way to develop understanding.

Be a Good Role Model


It is also important that parents and carers are good
nutrition and exercise role models for their children.

Some of the ways that families can do this include:

Making breakfast a family morning routine. Breakfast is


an important energy source for children to get their day
started
Do not push a child to eat or to finish what is on their
plate. Allow them to determine when they are done
Eating at the table as a family is a habit to get into
that will promote family togetherness and the importance
of the concept of a meal
Encourage the child to eat slowly, and to stop eating
when they feel full
Avoid using junk food or treats as rewards. Instead,
teach the child that food is nutrition, not a prize to
be won

21.6 The Importance of Physical


Activity
Proper nutrition is the key to development
in children, but physical activity is
equally important.

When combining the two, a child can maintain their weight and
prevent future health issues. Parents and carers should
encourage children to find physical activities that they like
to do, and should set a goal for at least an hour of activity
each day.

Children’s access to computers, televisions, mobile phones and


video games should also be limited to no more than two hours
each day.
Again, this is a good thing to do as a family, as most of us
can use more physical activity in our lives.
Conclusion
Health and nutrition play a very active role in the
development of the child. Whether you are looking at physical,
cognitive, or mental development, the nutrition a child gets
can have either a positive or a negative effect on their
development. Nutritious food and exercise will help to create
a healthy, happy, and intelligent child, but poor food and a
stagnant lifestyle can have the exact opposite effect.

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