As I work in different areas and schools, I understand how important proper nutrition is to the development of young children. Many school districts are beginning to implement healthy breakfast for all young children at no additional cost. I can be honest and say I had reservations around breakfast being served to children in school, as it is one less responsibility parents will have. However I know in low income areas, children do not have access to healthy meals and snacks and developing healthy children is the responsibility of everyone who functions within the society. Malnutrition causes 30% of deaths in young children from birth to age five (WHO, 2012). Malnutrition can effect proper brain development, stunt physical growth, and increase acceptability of diseases (Berger, 2009, p.157). Malnutrition is affecting almost 195 million children around the world. An insufficient amount of essential nutrients, including protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, is the main source of malnutrition, not just a minimal amount of food (Doctors without borders, 2012, para. 1, 3).
There are the “hotspots” for malnutrition which includes Sahel, South Asia, and the horn of Africa. In some South American countries, the implementation of nutritional programs has begun to decrease malnutrition rates among young children (Doctors Without Borders, 2012, para. 5, 7). In South Asia, malnourished children have high deficiencies in iron, vitamin A, and iodine. Poverty is the main cause of malnutrition, although status of women in society, low birth rate, poor hygiene, and poor child feeding practices also contribute. Approximately, 1/3 of children are malnourished and over 1/3 of women are underweight and malnourished (The World Bank, 2011).
It is important that parents and teachers are educated about nutrition and the effects of proper and improper nutrition. I will include such information as part of my advocacy work with parents in efforts to increase their support for healthy development for their children. In my work with teachers, I will begin to include more nutritional pieces as it is vital to the development of the “whole child”.
Resources
Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers
Doctors Without Borders. (2012). Malnutrition. Retrieved from http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/issue.cfm?id=2396
The World Bank. (2011). South Asia. An urgent call for action: undernourished children of South Asia. Retrieved from http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,contentMDK:22264595~menuPK:158937~pagePK:2865106~piPK:2865128~theSitePK:223547,00.html
World Health Organization (WHO). (2012). Promoting proper feeding for infants and young children. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/infantfeeding/en/index.html
I can't agee more about how important nutrition is when it comes to children. I see all the time when children have to be on medicine because they are ADHD or ADD and most of the time it is because they can eat whatever they eant. Chips and soda do not count for good nutrition. I have heard from many different medical professionals thet most of the time caregivers can avoid meds and give the children proper, nutritional, foods, and this can remedy the over ambitious children.
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