NAEYC, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, and the US Department of Health and Human Services all recommend that preschool programs offer physical education. There are many reasons why. First, young children form healthy habits early in life. Before entering elementary school they learn to brush their teeth, bathe…

Good schools for children ages 5 to 8 provide multiple opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day. Ideally, physical education, recess, extracurricular activities, and classroom activities together help ensure that children meet the recommended 60 minutes a day of structured activity and 60 of unstructured. Additionally, brief…

Young children depend on their families and teachers to support their well-being and promote positive development, including eating behaviors. Children's food preferences and willingness to try new foods are influenced by the people around them. The eating behaviors children practice early in life affect their health and nutrition--significant…

The preschool years are a critical period for the development of food preferences and lifelong eating habits. Between the ages of 2 and 5, children become increasingly responsive to external cues, such as television commercials that use popular cartoon characters to advertise foods, candy in supermarket checkout aisles, and fast-food restaurants…

Early childhood educators must realize that children are in their care at a critical time. Children learn to make decisions and develop the foundation for a healthy lifestyle during their early years. Many children spend a large number of their waking hours in early childhood settings. Family lives are very busy, and it is understandable that some…

Describes the federal Children's Health Insurance Program, designed to provide free or low-cost health insurance to children in uninsured families with low or moderate incomes. Outlines state innovations in providing outreach to eligible families. Maintains that active early-childhood community involvement is critical to state's efforts to reach…

Maintains that, as with previous generations in the early childhood profession, the current generation of early childhood educators must continue to advocate for the lives of young children and their families, thereby serving as guides for future generations of early childhood professions. (BB)

Provides early childhood teachers and caregivers with clues for detecting foot problems in young children. (BB)

Provides information on child abuse and how early childhood educators can help parents and their children in overcoming the trauma. Recommends two children's books on child abuse and provides a list of useful resources. (MOK)

Warns about a potential epidemic of obesity among children in the United States and urges early childhood practitioners to provide outdoor play that increases children's physical activity, muscle strength, and coordination. Maintains that playgrounds should offer a variety of equipment that challenges children at different ability levels. Asserts…

Notes that reversing the "quiet crisis" in health and education facing infants and toddlers in America requires action in four key areas: (1) promoting responsible parenthood; (2) guaranteeing quality child care choices; (3) ensuring good health and protection; and (4) mobilizing communities to support young children and their families.…

Explains the role of child care health consultants and suggests whom to contact for health consultant services. Notes that professional child care health consultants should be knowledgeable of pediatric care, child development, injury prevention screening, and state licensing guidelines. Suggests that consultants can provide on-site visits, assist…

Proposes measures intended to help the nation meet the national educational goal of having each child start school "ready to learn" by 2000. Measures concern children's health; quality preschools; parent participation; responsive workplaces; educational television; proposed "neighborhoods for learning"; interactions across…

Presents information on physical activity levels in young children. Provides guidelines for appropriately promoting physical activity in early childhood classrooms, focusing on movement concepts of body, space, effort, and relationship. Includes appropriate teaching strategies and activities. Concludes that guided movement instruction helps…

Touch matters. Humans need nurturing touch for optimum emotional, physical, and cognitive development and health--especially in infancy. Positive touch lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the brain. Drawing on research and anecdotal evidence to support the importance of touch to children's well-being, the author makes a case for…