Children must be allowed time to rest, relax or sleep. These needs can be met by providing quiet areas like a book corner with soft cushions. Also relaxing activities like storytime should be provided.
Being clean and healthy will give the child good self esteem. The child’s hygienic needs can be met by supported potty training and encouraged hand washing to avoid infection. You can also support the child by being a good role model. Children’s toilet areas should be kept extremely clean and their dummies, feeding bottles and plastic toys should be sterilised regularly not just washed.
Balanced diet:
In order to grow and develop children need to eat a balanced diet containing a range of different nutrients. These are Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals, Fibre and Water.
Certain proportions are required for a healthy diet. All need to be eaten in certain balanced quantities. Below are the quantities needed for normal, full diet:
- 4 portions per day of bread and cereals (e.g.: bread, cereal, pasta, rice, potatoes).
- 5 portions per day of fruit and vegetables (e.g.: piece of fruit, pure juice, cooked fruit and vegetables, raw vegetables).
- 2 portions per day of meat or meat alternatives (e.g.: animal or vegetable protein).
- 3 portions per day of milk and milk products (e.g.: glass of milk, yoghurt, piece of cheese).
- 1.5 litres of water per day.
- Children under 5 need a pint of whole milk per day.
This is a day’s menu for a four year old child which promotes a balanced diet:
Breakfast:
Weetabix and banana
Glass of milk
Mid-morning snack:
Orange
Glass of milk
Lunch:
Chicken and salad sandwich
Strawberry milkshake
Yoghurt
Afternoon snack:
Rice bar
Glass of squash
Dinner:
Pork stew with dumplings, carrots and
potatoes. With a piece of bread.
Water based drink.
Bedtime:
Biscuit
Cup of tea
This is quite a balanced diet because there are 4 portions of bread and cereals, 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, 2 portions of meat and meat alternatives, 3 portions of milk and milk products.
Cultural diets:
An awareness of different cultural eating habits is important to make sure that you respect cultural or religious practices.
It is essential to find out what the child is allowed to eat and ensure that the child still receives a balanced diet. This is because food gives the child fuel to grow and develop and the energy they need for the hard work involved in playing and learning.
For example these are a couple of different cultures:
Vegetarians: don’t eat any meat but can get the necessary protein from nuts, pulses and quorn.
Vegans: don’t eat meat or dairy products but can get protein from nuts, pulses, lentils, split peas and soya. They can get vitamins from soya milk and cream.
Potential hazards:
- Poisonous chemicals e.g.: cleaning fluids should be locked away out of children’s reach.
- There should be plenty of fire exits e.g.: one in the kitchen and one at each end of the building.
- Storage area should be kept tidy so nothing can fall on the children.
- Play equipment should be checked for rust and kept in a suitable state of repair.
- Poisonous plants should be cut down.
- Ponds should be covered.
Adapting the environment to help children with special needs:
Some adaptations may be necessary to the environment to accommodate children with special needs. The types of adaptations will depend on the individual need of the child. For example:
- Carpeting, mats on tables and rubber fixed to the base of table and chair legs will reduce background noises, creating a quiet environment which benefits children with hearing impairment.
- Slopes and wide doorways will create easy access for children in wheelchairs.
- Permanently positioned furniture will assist visually impaired children (they can learn the layout of the room) but if the furniture is moved it will present obstacles.
Importance of working with a team:
- You can share your knowledge, opinions and observations in a positive way whilst valuing the knowledge and expertise of all team members.
- You need to constantly look at your practice with others in the team, and be able to offer and accept suggestions for improvement.
Each member of a team:
- Respect confidentiality.
- Respect and trust each other.
- Have confidence in each other.
- Good communication (team meetings).
- Be a good role model.
- Good personal hygiene.
- Good partnership with parents.
- Anti – discriminatory and anti – bias practice.
Equal opportunities:
All children deserve a range of experiences in an environment that encourages a positive outlook towards people. Children and parents shouldn’t be treated differently because of their culture, race, religion, colour or disability. This is called anti – discriminatory practice.
Discriminating against and not including the child can give the child low self - esteem.
Legislation:
Nurseries and baby care facilities need to be checked by several authorities to ensure that the facility is safe and suitable for 0-8 year olds. These include Building Control Regulations Officer, Environmental Health Officers and Devon Fire and Rescue Services.
The requirements for a safe environment include:
- Flooring must be clean and splinter – proof.
- An area for food preparation must be used separately if under 3yrs attend.
- Premises must be safe and in good repair.
- Glass doors and all low-level glass must be safety glass.
- Doors need to have out of children’s reach or be suitably alarmed.
