Topic 1: Basic Nutrition 
                 Assignments and Activities Title: Brain Development and Nutrition 
                 Learning Outcome 1:  Explain why the early years are important for children’s life-long 
                 nutritional status. 
                 Standards: Outcome 1 
                         NAEYC Professional Preparation Standards  
                             •   Standard 1a: Knowing and understanding young children’s characteristics and 
                                 need 
                             •   Standard 1b: Knowing and understanding the multiple influences on development 
                                 and learning 
                         NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards 
                             •   Standard 5.B:  Ensuring Children's Nutritional Well-being 
                         Head Start Performance Standards 
                             •   Standard 1304.23 (a): Identification of Nutritional Needs 
                 Pearson Education gratefully acknowledges the National Association for the Education of 
                 Young Children for the use of its standards. 

                  

                 Pearson Education gratefully acknowledges Head Start for the use of its standards. 
                                                              
                 Assignment Introduction Text:  Nutrition is important throughout a child’s life.  However, 
                 good nutrition is most critical during the fetal period and infant and toddler years. This video 
                 discusses the importance of fetal and postnatal nutrition on children’s brain development.   
                 Video Asset:  Brain Development and Nutrition  
                 http://abavtooldev.pearsoncmg.com/myeducationlab/singleplay.php?projectID=earlychildhooded
                 ucation&clipID=brain_development.flv 
                  
                 Question 1 Text:  What are the effects of poor nutrition on young children? 
                 Question 1 Hint: Pay special attention to the first part of the video. 
                 Questions 1 Feedback: Nutrition has both short-term and long-term affects on children’s 
                 health, physical development, brain development, and IQ. 
                  
                 Question 2 Text:  When is a baby’s brain particularly vulnerable to the affects of poor nutrition?  
                 If children later receive proper nutrition, can these affects be overcome? 
                 Question 2 Hint: Note especially the information provided by John Dobbing, one of the world’s 
                 leading experts on fetal and postnatal nutrition and brain development. 
        
       Questions 2 Feedback: From three months before birth to after the second year, babies are 
       particularly vulnerable to poor nutrition. A later adequate diet often cannot compensate for 
       earlier deficits caused by poor nutrition. 
                 Assignments and Activities Title: Obesity in Children 
                 Learning Outcome 2:  Provide examples of nutritional issues and challenges faced by young 
                 children in today’s society. 
                 Standards: Outcome 2 
                         NAEYC Professional Preparation Standards  
                             •   Standard 1b: Knowing and understanding the multiple influences on development 
                                 and learning 
                         NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards 
                             •   Standard 5.B:  Ensuring Children's Nutritional Well-being 
                 Pearson Education gratefully acknowledges the National Association for the Education of 
                 Young Children for the use of its standards.    
                 Assignment Introduction Text:  One of the health challenges to children in today’s society is 
                 obesity.  This video explores the causes of obesity, the health risks associated with it, and ways 
                 to prevent it.  In this video, you will observe one family as the parents attempt to adopt a 
                 healthier lifestyle to support their child.  Just as parents have a part in fighting the obesity 
                 epidemic, so do schools.  As you observe the video, think about what teachers can do to fight this 
                 epidemic.  
                 Video Asset:  Obesity in Children 
                 http://media.pearsoncmg.com/bc/bc_0media_hk/abcvideos/index.htm?obesity_in_children 
                 Question 1 Text:  What are the health risks associated with childhood obesity? 
                 Question 1 Hint: Make a list as you watch the video. 
                 Question 1 Feedback: Health risks of childhood obesity include early death, type 2 diabetes,  
                 heart disease, high cholesterol, asthma, hypertension, and bone and joint problems. 
                  
                 Question 2 Text:  What are the causes and risk factors for obesity? 
                 Question 2 Hint: Watch the entire video including the statistics on family obesity and the 
                 interview in which Rachel describes why she is eating.   
                 Question 2 Feedback: Causes associated for obesity include eating the wrong types of food, 
                 eating too much food, having a sedentary lifestyle, and eating to relieve emotional stress.  A risk 
                 factor for obesity is having obese family members.  For example, two-thirds of obese children 
                 have parents who are obese. 
                  
                 Question 3 Text:  The nutritionist provides tips for Mark’s family on how to eat a more healthy 
                 diet.  What does she suggest?  Would these tips be appropriate for early childhood programs? 
       Question 3 Hint: Pay attention to the video as the nutritionist takes the family shopping. 
       Questions 3 Feedback: The nutritionist recommends not shopping when you are hungry, 
       making a shopping list and sticking to it, trying new healthy foods, reducing the intake of 
       unhealthy foods, and making healthy meals in advance and freezing them.  Many of these tips are 
       also important to incorporate into early childhood programs.  For example, early childhood 
       programs can provide opportunities for children to try new healthy foods and can help the 
       children reduce the amount of foods they eat that are high in fat and sugar.  
        
       Question 4 Text:  How can early childhood programs help to reduce childhood obesity? 
       Question 4 Hint: Think about the program’s role in working with both children and families. 
       Question 4 Feedback: Among the many appropriate answers are modeling eating healthy foods 
       and exercising, serving healthy meals, exposing children to a variety of healthy foods, ensuring 
       that children get exercise while they are at the program, assisting children to learn to be 
       physically active, presenting lessons on healthy food, and providing information to parents about 
       nutrition, exercise, and the dangers associated with obesity.