Teachers' Influence on Students' Eating Behaviors
Did you know?
Eating behaviors are developed in early childhood
Over 80% of US children between 3 to 5 years old are enrolled in preschool or daycare
Children spend an average of 35 hours per week in center-based care
Preschool is optimal time and place for children to learn about healthy eating habits
Teachers directly impact children's eating behaviors through:
- The foods teachers eat in front of their students
- Teachers' beliefs and perceptions of foods verbalized in the classroom
- The foods offered to children in the classroom
- The foods permitted in the classroom
- Nutrition teaching practices
- Nutrition communication with parents
Observational Learning
- Young children, in the preschool and kindergarten years, learn through observation
- Children mimic behaviors they see from their caregivers
- Early childhood teachers have a responsibility to model and encourage healthy behaviors through their nutrition habits and classroom practices
- Did you know? Studies have shown that direct exposure to teachers’ eating behaviors and classroom food practices influence children’s liking and intake of certain foods.