(ECE204)

CHILDREN’S HEALTH, NUTRITION AND SAFETY

 TOPIC 1 :

INTRODUCTION TO
HEALTH, NUTRITION
AND SAFETY.
 COURSE OUTCOME:
At the end of topic, student be able:
• State the basic concepts of nutrition and
health
• Explain the food pyramid state nutrition
classification
• Stated the Nutrition Policy
• States the Malaysian Nutrition Guide
 INTRODUCTION
• Healthy and balanced nutrition is an
important part of a child's life.

• Balanced nutrition is important for

children to keep the body functioning
normally and healthy
1.1 DEFINITION OF HEALTH
THE HEALTH CONCEPT OF CHILDREN
IN CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOL
 WHAT IS HEALTH

•According to the WHO health is defined as a perfect state in terms of physical

mental, emotional, spiritual and social.
•Health is also a dynamic process that is constantly changing and can be obtained
through the nurturing of knowledge, attitudes, balanced and continuous practice.
•According to Hugh Hawes et.all, health is a state of physical, mental and social
well-being not just free from disease alone. If one of the elements mentioned
suffers from disorder means the individual is unhealthy.
● The ‘health’ concept is defined as
being in a healthy and safe
condition, free of any injuries,
disabilities, and diseases.
THE HEALTH CONCEPT
All of these three components, which are
physical, mental, and social, are integrated
and connected to each other. Any changes
(whether good or bad) that occur to any of
the components will affect the other two
components.
All of the 54 country representatives
unanimously accept the motion that ‘health’
does not only refer to being free from any
injuries, disabilities, and diseases, but it also
includes being healthy physically, mentally, and
socially.
As a result of these definitions, another
two components have been discovered
that are also elemental in the health
concept, which are emotion and
spiritual.
Hoyman (1962)

‘Health’ is regarded as ‘being in an optimal healthy

condition’ in order to live a perfect, productive, and
creative life. This is shown in a hierarchy that begins with
optimal health and ends with death (zero health).

● Dubos (1968)

● Health is a quality of life that involves social, emotion,

mental, spiritual, and biological fitness individually,
guided by the environment.
 physical

sexual mental

healthy

spiritual emotion

social
• Safety is to avoid situations that could result in an accident.

• Safety is also an immediate aid given to patients regardless of race or descent

before seeking treatment from a doctor or hospital.

Accident Issues
● Among those that always happen to children
⚪ In case of fire/ burns
● light, lighter, radiator, gas, hot drink, kettle, iron, hot water in bathroom, cooker etc
⚪ Wounds due to fall
● Open window, stairs, highchair, pushchair, climbing frames
⚪ Choking or drowning
● Pillows (babies), games with ropes, plastic bag, nuts, games with ‘loose parts’, games
without safety signs etc
⚪ Poisoned
● Medicines, detergent, garbage bin
⚪ Break (bones) or serious injuries
● Scissor, knife, sharp edges, glass window/ door
⚪ Electric shock
CONCEPT OF HEALTH

▪ Physical
▪ Mental
▪ Emotional
 1.2 DEFINITION OF
NUTRITION AND FOOD
 WHAT IS NUTRITION

• Nutrition is a substance that is digested, absorbed and

metabolized for body functions such as carbohydrates,
proteins, fats, vitamins, mineral salts and water.
• The body needs nutrition that meets all the body's
needs but with low calorie values.
• Children are prone to illness if we provide them with
low-fat but high-calorie foods.
 DEFINITION OF FOOD AND NUTRITION

What is Food?

• Food is anything that is edible (solid or liquid)

that enables the body to grow, provide energy
and participate in the control of body
processes that can sustain life.
 Basic Concepts of Nutrition and Health

The importance of nutritious nutrition to  children:

1) Energy supply for movement

2) The supply of nutrients needed for them to grow
and develop

(physical and mental)

3) maintain general health
– prevent from disease.
– restore the body's health after infection and
injury.
 CHILDREN’S NUTRITION

► Growing children are more active and curious (so they need more energy and
nutritious food)

► Make eating nutritious food as a routine to ensure the growth in health and
fitness by feeding them:

- Foods of different types of foods based on food pyramids

- Foods based on needs
- More vegetables, fruits, beans, and cereals
- Foods with less fat
- Animal-based food (meat, fish, crab, milk, liver, squid etc)
- Avoid unhealthy snacks and instant food with a lot of additional
chemicals
Tips
•Prepare meals immediately during mealtimes
•Avoid giving snacks right before mealtimes
•Cut the food into small pieces to make it easier for the children to eat
•Give the children the chance to enjoy a natural taste of food without adding salt and
flavorings
•Keep track on the children’s monthly growth weight to make sure they are not going through
obesity

(Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia)

Make mealtimes a fun moment:

●Avoid scolding the children during mealtimes

●Do not threaten/ force the children to eat
●Avoid discussing about food that the children do not like
●Encourage them to eat on their own while being monitored by parents
●Eat together with the children
1.3 DEFINITION OF SAFETY
 WHAT IS SAFETY

• The concept of safety refers to measures taken by individuals or groups to prevent

harm such as accidents, deaths or injuries.
• Without protection security, individuals will feel scared, anxious or vulnerable to
something that harms them whether consciously or not.
• Without guaranteed security, education is not carried out effectively because it is
haunted by uncertain worries and fears.
• Therefore a fair system of protection must be provided to children in order to meet
the demands of peace, tranquility, protection, free from restlessness, free from fear
where everything is an aspect of safety.
• This lack of security will create a dangerous situation for children.
 CONCEPT OF SAFETY

•Own safety
• Requirements
• Policy
• Protection

Safe management of tools and materials

• Games
• Equipment in the classroom
• Appliances in the bathroom
• kitchen utensils
 Children Safety Issues

● Understanding the signs of injury

⚪ Physical
⚪ Emotion
⚪ Sexual
⚪ Abandonment
What are the actions that could be taken?
 SAFETY POLICY

● Safety policy has to be established to guide teachers on how to act in the risk of accidents,
guarantee the protection and the safety of the children, as well as emphasizing the
importance of children safety in childcare/ preschool.
● The safety policy must include:
- Environment safety
- Accident prevention management
- Safety plan
- The impact of teachers/ guardians

SAFETY POLICY CONCEPT

● Safety policy should be planned and must be able to prevent accident in the early stage and to
protect children, and can be used by teachers, guardians/ parents, families and
environment/society.

● The policy must be written and displayed clearly.

● The safety policy has to be planned by taking into account the children development progress,
and the environment of childcare institutions.
 CONCLUSIONS
❑Children growing up need to be helped
him grow with the selection of
appropriate food.
❑Although the necessary nutrients just
like adults, but they require different
quantities and certainly more than just a
glass of milk a day.
❑Source nutrients they need in order to
guide the preparation of their menu
begins exactly one year of age.
DISCUSSION AND EXERCISE
Thank
you