Nourishing Children with Books

Authors: Sharon M. Nickols-Richardson, Associate Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech; Danielle E. Parra, Dietetic Intern, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech; Elena Serrano, Extension Specialist, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech.

Publication Number 348-950, Posted November 2006

Children’s growth and development require nourishment for the body and the mind. Books with food and nutrition topics, cultural food patterns, and physical activity themes help to improve the quality of life of children by exposing them to a variety of foods and activities through creative stories. Feeding and exercising the mind are also important to a child’s wellness. Learning to read is a vital ingredient to a child’s success and maturation.

  1. Select story books to promote MyPyramid. Books with messages and stories that promote the MyPyramid concepts are helpful to reinforce variety, balance, and moderation in food choices along with appropriate physical activity. Books should match the reading level of the child, reflect the child’s culture, and introduce new cultural and ethnic features of food, nutrition, and physical activity.

  2. Select books at an appropriate reading level.
  3. Select books that incorporate culturally diverse ways of interacting and making decisions about food choices.

Beyond the Book:  Actively Engaging Children in Books

Listening to a story being read helps a child develop communication and language skills. Actively engaging the child in the story expands the storyline and the application of the book’s messages. It also helps develop the child’s mental and physical functioning. Here are some ideas to more fully nourish children with books.

Before Beginning the Book

During Reading

After Finishing the Book

Follow-up Activities

Children learn more fully when their minds and bodies are actively engaged. Plan follow-up activities after reading the book that support the MyPyramid and physical activity concepts. For example:

These activities will reinforce the healthy messages of the book. Be sure that a followup project lets the child be physically active, is developmentally appropriate, supports a nutrition principle, is culturally sensitive, and is safe. Recognition for completing books and follow-up activities make the child feel important and special. Awarding of certificates, bookmarks, and new books reinforce reading and provide positive recognition.

Activity Check List

  1. Are children active learners, and doing something ?
  2. Does the activity support a nutrition or healthy message?
  3. Is the activity culturally diverse?
  4. Is it developmentally appropriate?
  5. Can children physically do the activity?
  6. Is the activity safe?

Daily Living Skills – Standards of Learning (SOLs)

Virginia’s public schools have a set of standards regarding the information and knowledge that students should learn. Nutrition education through reading books and completing follow-up activities can fit in and support the school curriculum by meeting the SOLs. For example:

Finding books that nourish

Listed below are some tips to help you get started. Many food-, nutrition-, and exercise-related books are available. Involve the children in choosing the books and activities and help them digest the stories and concepts. Nourishing children with books can be expanded beyond the individual child. There are ways to involve the family and community in reading exploration that are identified as aspects of elementary school Standards of Learning.

Your local or regional library is an excellent resource for nourishing books. Elementary school libraries may also house many books with food, nutrition, and exercise themes that children may check-out. Many bookstores host “story times” for children, and employees are often good resources for recommending a variety of books that may also be found at the local library.

Your local Virginia Cooperative Extension agent can also help you find appropriate books. Contact your local Extension office or login to the Internet at http://www.ext.vt.edu/offices/ to find an office and connect with an Extension agent.

Michigan State University developed a comprehensive list of over 300 books that cover food, nutrition, health, and physical activity topics, categorized by food group and theme. The Michigan Team Nutrition List is at http://www.tn.fcs.msue.msu.edu/Booklist.pdf.

Another helpful online resource was developed by the Food and Nutrition Information Center of the United States Department of Agriculture. Food and Nutrition Resources for Grades Preschool through 6, http://www.nalusda.gov/fnic/pubs/bibs/edu/preschool.html#Lan, lists books and other educational materials that can be borrowed from the center.

A credible website is The Children’s Literature Web Guide, http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dKbrown/usawards.html. It lists the American Library Association Children’s Literature Awards. The Association for Library Service to Children, http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alsc.htm, works toward developing the nation’s youth through reading. This organization provides resources that may be purchased for local libraries, schools, or community centers.

Reading - Family and Community Involvement

Some caregivers believe childhood is play and stressfree time. But young children are exposed to many food responsibilities in their daily routines and what they see in various media. They learn about happy and pleasant as well as disturbing and harsh experiences. Good literature shows a child how to cope and to develop attitudes and practices to enhance Quality of Life.

Beyond Books - Family Activities

Take regular trips to the library with children. Encourage children to write and illustrate original storybooks as presents for family members. Consider forming a parent-child book club. The books can have food, nutrition, and physical activity themes. Serve as a sponsor of the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program (http://www.rif.org). Plan community events around reading-focused programs. For example, March is National Nutrition Month; April is School Library Media Month and includes Children’s Book Week and National Library Week; September is Library Card Signup Month.

Learning as a Family

Children adopt the behaviors of their parents, care providers, and teachers. Let a child see you reading. Take every opportunity to read to a child or with a child. Reading is not limited to books – children can read coupons, food packages, and advertisements. Your guidance is very important as children are exposed to a multitude of food advertisements, nutrition messages, and childhood activities.

Awards

Award young readers and volunteers. Give certificates, ribbons, or bookmarks for books children read.

GOLD LEAF AWARD CERTIFICATES: The leaf represents book leaves and nutritious vegetable leaves, and gold signifies excellence.

Summary

Nourishing Children with Books supports the development of reading skills in youth and promotes learning about food, nutrition, and physical activity that encourages healthy lifestyle choices. Appropriately selected books and follow-up activities can improve reading skills, enhance an interest in reading, and support good food and physical activity choices in children.

Other Nourishing Books

Possible Books to Support the Standards of Learning

Some Books to Engage Children while Reading

Some Books to Engage Children after Reading

Books to Support Activities and Learning after Reading

Other Food- and Activity-Based Books to Nourish

This publication was originally authored by Ann Hertzler, Ph.D., R.D., Extension Specialist (retired), Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech.

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