Health, Safety, and Nutrition Education - EDU 235 at Virginia Peninsula Community College
https://courses.vccs.edu/colleges/vpcc/courses/EDU235-HealthSafetyandNutritionEducation
Effective: 2025-05-01
Course Description
Focuses on the health, safety, and nutritional needs of children and developmentally appropriate methods to meet these needs. Emphasizes children's well-being through mindful practices that address health and hygiene, nutrition and feeding routines, childhood diseases, and safety issues. Discusses strategies to promote the mental and physical well-being of children, as well as procedures for reporting child abuse.
Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits
The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.
General Course Purpose
To prepare the early childhood educator to meet the physical needs of young children through preparation of a safe environment, planned routines and positive experiences in the areas of health, safety and nutrition.
Course Objectives
- Identify health, safety and nutrition practices which meet the changing developmental needs of typically and atypically developing children, ages birth to 8.
- List and apply culturally responsive health routines for children within the framework of the early childhood program.
- Outline appropriate meal planning practices for young children.
- Identify common childhood diseases, and plan appropriate responses to their onset.
- Create child-centered activities to promote conceptual understanding in children of self-care in the areas of health, safety and nutrition.
- Define and discuss child abuse, identification of symptoms, and appropriate procedures.
- Identify and apply current State and National standards and competencies as they relate to working with children and families.
Major Topics to be Included
- Impact of health, safety, and nutrition practices on the development of the whole child
- Culturally responsive daily routines that enhance the physical and psychological well-being of young children.
- Scheduling routines into daily lives of young children
- Simple menu planning for children
- Health issues related to eating habits in children
- Identification and prevention of common childhood diseases
- Planning and creating a safe, healthy, and trauma-informed learning environment for children
- Child abuse identification and reporting responsibilities