Saving Lives

Saving Lives

 

 

 

I believe this video clip captures the essence of what’s happening in the lives of our young children today with regards to their health.  I’m sure you will agree that we do not want our future generation to live lives 10 years shorter than what we are living.  These diseases are preventable and we, parents, teachers and the community are able to contribute to saving the lives of young children.  Therefore it is imperative that we as teachers up skill with regards to information about healthy lifestyles and nutrition in order to equip children with the necessary skills and knowledge in regards to managing their health and wellbeing.

This issue is as serious in New Zealand as anywhere else, The District Health Board (2011) advises that one in five children in New Zealand are overweight and these children are likely to remain obese in adulthood.  This lifestyle leads to premature death and greater disabilities in adulthood as well as has severe impacts on children’s self esteem, which leads to socialisation issues.  As one of our objectives within early childhood is to support and promote the wellbeing of children.  The Ministry of Education (1996) suggests that children should develop “knowledge about how to keep themselves healthy” (p. 48) therefore we should be incorporating within our practice, teachings to develop the skills and knowledge around health and nutrition.  As part of our practice within centres we are able to achieve this through our positive reciprocal relationships with children and their families.  As we are one of the influential figures behind laying the foundations for children’s futures, I believe it is of significance that we acknowledge our part in contributing to developing these life skills within children and their families.

If we make the educating of health and nutrition among families and children a priority now, we might be able to prevent the onset of these diseases among individuals.  

As Professor Lefèbvre suggests that prevention programmes should focus on preventing obesity by facilitating physical activity and healthy diets, thisisachievable within early childhood

education.

One particular centre is making it a priority to create awareness around this subject by incorporating the following in their teachings and routines within the centre.  They are:

·     Encouraging physical activity throughout the day

·     Providing children with only healthy options for morning and afternoon tea meals

·     Offering parents advise through newsletters, notice boards and informal discussions of healthy lunchbox options

·     Incorporating process cooking with the children, in order for the children to be part of the process of making healthy meals and snacks

·     Revisiting regularly the idea of keeping themselves healthy and how this is achieved

·     Welcoming community based sports programmes to be run at the centre for the children to   participate in.

These are a few examples of how a centre and staff are able to contribute to creating awareness and educating children with regards to healthy nutrition and physical activity.  As Jamie Oliver (2010) stated that the home is one of the main influences when it comes to developing a child’s food culture, I believe so is an early childhood centre.  As some children spend a great deal of their day within these centres and what they learn there will have a significant impact in their knowledge and understandings of not only this subject but many others in order to equip them for their futures.

I believe that it is the responsibility of the entire nation to make it a priority to equip society, families and children with the necessary education, options and availability of healthy food, nutrition and physical activities.  By creating an awareness of these two significant life threatening diseases and introducing policies and strategies in order to prevent the onset of and decrease the statistics of  type 2 diabetes and obesity not only among adults but children we are able to save precious lives.

I would like to end with a quote from Jamie Oliver (2010) for us all to acknowledge “I wish for everyone to help create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower people everywhere to fight obesity”.



 

References

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Diabetes: Definitions, Signs & Symptoms. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wakemed.org/body.cfm?id=604

Diabetes New Zealand. (2008, November 12). Diabetes goes blue for our children. Media Release. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org.nz/news/diabetes_goes_blue_for_our_children

Diabetes worse killer than AIDS. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org.nz/news/world_news/diabetes_worse_killer_than_aids

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International Diabetes Federation. (2004, June 25). Diabetes and obesity epidemic in children: International call to action. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org.nz/news/world_news/diabetes_and_obesity_epidemic_in_children_international_call_to_action

Johnston, M. (2009, May 26). Govt cuts off cash to obesity coalition. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10574539

Kedgley, S. (2004). Obesity speech. Retrieved from http://www.greens.org.nz/speeches/obesity-speech

New Zealand First Party. (2013, January 30). Government impotent on tackling diabetes and obesity. Scoop Independent News. Retrieved from http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1301/S00182/government-impotent-on-tackling-diabetes-and-obesity.htm

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He Whāriki Mātauranga mō ngā Mokopuna o Aotearoa. Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.

Obesity. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/sites/all/files/pos_obesity.pdf

Oliver, J. [JamieOliver]. (2010, February 12). Jamie Oliver's TED Award speech. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIwrV5e6fMY

Ryall, T. (2012). National diabetes nurse specialist symposium. Retrieved from http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/national-diabetes-nurse-specialist-symposium

Torrie, B. (2012, June 12. Obesity hike puts Kiwis in line for $1b diabetes bill. The Dominion Post. Retrieved from http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/7081926/Obesity-hike-puts-Kiwis-in-line-for-1b-diabetes-bill

Waikato District Health Board. (2011). Obesity, diabetes and fast food – the impact of marketing to children. Retrieved from http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/file/fileid/41015

 

What is diabetes?. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org.nz/about_diabetes