BT August 2019

Ask Our Experts
Daisy Ng
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
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Should education on nutrition be a subject in
preschools and kindergartens in the future, seeing
that more and more people are getting ill from
obesity, diabetes, etc at a younger age these days? ~
In preschools, or even older schools such as primary and
secondary schools, a child is impressionable. What the child
experiences can have a profound impact on habit and belief
formation. A recurring class on nutrition provides awareness
and cultivates healthy attitude about nutrition. It teaches a
child from young the importance of feeding and nourishing
our body with nutritious foods and ingredients.
On the other hand, eating healthily paints only half the picture
of good health. It is vital that we teach our child to move his/
her body daily and to develop a positive body image.
This is why I myself place utmost importance in setting
up a fun and sheltered playground so that children have
access to run free and socialize, rain or shine, in a safe and
secure environment. We dedicate at least 30% of our daily
schedule to creative play. Scheduling in regular pockets
of time for play, socializing, creative activities add to the
productivity of our child.
This seems trivial but plants an important belief that life
is about balance. Our child learns the tools to build and
maintain their fitness and good health.
In a nutshell, offering nutrition as a learning subject is a step
in the right direction to promote positive health outcomes. It
would, however, be more powerful to incorporate measures
to make healthy lifestyle a belief and way of life.
The greatest wealth in life is our health.
Good health is a vital component of life. A healthy body
includes a sharp productive mind, agility and energy to
pursue our dreams.
Obesity as well as diabetes are negative outcomes in
health. Negative health outcomes happen when there is a
disconnection between what our body needs and what we
do with our body.
Good outcomes in health depends on two conditions:
i. What we put into our body
ii. What we do with our body
18 BabyTalk | August 2019