Activities by Age Group: Preschool
Role Modeling: Effective Verbal Comments
Explains elements of effective verbal comments:
- Make specific comments.
- Be enthusiastic.
- Ask questions about the food.
- Use absolute comments.
Length- 4:13; for children 2-5 years
Children Serve Themselves: Scooping and Pouring
Discusses steps to successfully model scooping and pouring:
- Have the right equipment.
- Show and tell how to scoop and pour.
- If a child needs help, use the hand-on-hand method.
- Engage children by asking questions.
- Practice makes perfect.
Length- 4:14; for children 2-5 years
Exploring Food with Your 5 Senses With: Tammie Ostdiek
We use all 5 of our senses when we eat. Practice being more aware of all of these senses when sitting down for a meal.
Length- 4:22; for children 3+ years
Role Modeling: Effective Mealtime Strategies
Discusses effective research-based strategies to use at mealtime:
- Sit with children during mealtimes.
- Eat the same foods that children eat.
- Eat the food at least twice.
- Gently prompt children to try foods.
- Be positive.
- Repeatedly offer a variety of foods.
Length- 3:54; for children 2-5 years
Peer Modeling: Tips to Help Picky Eaters
Discusses tips to implement when dealing with picky eaters:
- Don’t pressure children to eat.
- Model Healthy eating.
- Encourage children of explore the food using all of their senses.
- Keep exposing children to new foods.
- Sit with children and eat the same foods.
- Let children serve themselves.
- Praise children for trying new foods, not cleaning their plates.
Length- 2:15; for children 2-5 years
Learning How to Measure Ingredients With: LaShanna
Have fun learning how to measure dry and liquid ingredients. Take time practicing this new skill with your children at home.
Length- 3:04; for children 3+ years
Supporting Children’s Self-Regulation in Eating
Introduces the concept of self-regulation and the ability of children to self-regulate their energy intake.
Length- 1:15; for children 2-5 years
Self-Regulation: Teach Children to Describe Their Feelings of Hunger
Caregivers can teach children to describe hunger and fullness by using the strategies below:
- Teach children vocabulary and gestures to communicate feelings of hunger.
- Teach children to recognize hunger as “rumbling in tummies”
- Cue children to their level of hunger. Example, “If you are still hungry, you can have more food.”
Length- 3:03; for children 2-5 years
Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins with Blueberries By Beth & Micah Nacke
Engaging young children in food preparation helps to build confidence and encourages adventurous eating habits. Even with multi-step recipes, even 3 year-olds can be active participants.
Length- 4:04; for children 3+ years
Role Modeling Feelings of Fullness
Learn how to effectively role model feelings of fullness with young children to support their ability to self-regulate while eating.
Length- 1:54; for children 2-5 years
Engaging Children’s Sense of Sight
Discusses different strategies to engage children’s sense of sight with food.
Length- 4:57; for children 2-5 years
Mindful Tea Party By: Ranae Aspen & Savannah
Paying attention with curiosity and without judgement to how you eat can be helpful for your health. Practice mindfully eating by noticing how you feel when you eat. Savanna shares her mindful tea party.
Length- 3:45; for children 3+ years
Download The Last Orange on Earth handout
Download Optimizing Healthy Eating Hbits in Early Childhood with Mindfulness handout
Praise and Rewards: Avoid These Rewards to Encourage Children to Eat
Avoid these 4 rewards:
- Food-based rewards.
- “If-then” contingency.
- Rewarding for already-liked foods.
- Rewarding for finishing food.
Length- 2:03; for children 2-5 years
Praise and Rewards: 4 Ways to Use Rewards Effectively with Children
Discusses the impact of using effective rewards. If you chose to use rewards, try selecting the following rewards:
- Choose non-food rewards such as high fives and hugs.
- High interest rewards.
- Be selective when rewarding children.
Length- 2:03; for children
Praise and Rewards: Using Praise Effectively
Explains the difference between the types of praise and how to use praise effectively with children.
- Be specific to the child and the behavior.
- Praise the child’s actions.
- Comment on the child’s progress.
- Be judgement-free when praising.
- Praise children for trying any amount of food.
- Praise children for food that they have tried.
Length-4:36; for children 2-5 years