FIELDTRIP

We are headed to see the dentist to celebrate National Dental Health Month! We are not having formal class on Friday, Feb 19th. For those who need to ride with their teachers, we are meeting at preschool at 11:30. If you would like to drive your child and join us, meet us at Dr. Allen's office at noon. For those that are being dropped off at preschool, we will need you to pick them up at 1:00, not 2:00, just for this Friday. Call me if you have any questions! Thank you!

DO YOU HAVE PICKY EATERS? BY MISS EMILY JEAN NEF

Have you ever wondered what a nutritionist or dietitian would say about your picky eater? You have probably heard everything from ‘eat a variety of foods’ to ‘five a day’. Your kids have probably heard everything from ‘clean your plate’ to ‘just one bite’. Picky eating is normal in childhood isn’t it? I suggest that yes, picky eating is normal but it doesn’t have to be.

Food jags, where your child only wants one food and a lot of it, are perfectly normal in toddler and preschool age children. However food jags usually wear out on their own after a few weeks. Picky eaters eat a limited number of foods and won’t willingly try anything else. The difference between a food jag and picky is the number of foods and the duration.

I am not a dietitian, but I do have great interest in nutrition. I have taken many college nutrition classes. Nutrition is something that I love learning about. Since the advice is to eat a variety of foods every day, how do you help your picky eater to branch out? Here are a few ideas that have been suggested to me that I would like to share.

1. Have regular meals and snacks. This is not just because young children have small tummies. Regular mealtime and snack time means that both you and your child know that there will be another opportunity to eat in a few hours. If your child doesn’t like what there is to eat now, that is alright there will be more food offered later.

2. Eat with your child and have family meals. Monkey see, monkey do. Children will notice what, when, and how their parents eat even if you parents don’t realize that they are noticing. If they see you always eat standing up, they will wonder why they have to sit at the table. If they never see you eating veggies they will wonder why they have to eat them. Additionally eating together is important social interaction for both you and you child.

3. Don’t cater to your child’s pickiness. If you always get up and fix them what they want they will learn to expect that (and you will always be eating your meal cold). This also diminishes the likelihood that your child will try new or unfamiliar foods. It is ok to fix the food that they like now and again, but if what your picky child wants is not on the menu don’t make them something different.

4. Always have something familiar on the table. For example, always have bread and butter on the table. This will accomplish two things. First, your child will know that if he/she does not care for what is being served for the meal they can just have some bread. Second, this creates an opportunity for exposing your child to new and unfamiliar foods in a way that doesn’t seem threatening to your child. If left to their own devices, eventually children will try new foods on their own. It can take 12-15 times of just seeing an unfamiliar food on the table before a child will ask to try it. No forcing, coercing, or bribing involved.

Underlying all of these suggestions is the principle that you don’t turn eating into a power struggle with your child. Eating can be an uplifting and wholesome experience every day for you and your child.

MEET OUR NEW INTERNS!

Hi! My name is Dia Yang. I was born and raised in Fairfield, California (bay area). I am graduating this semester with a Bachelor’s of Science in Child Development. I am the 6^th out of 7 children. I am Hmong, which is an Asian minority from Southeast Asia. I love children. I love working with them, helping them grow and learn, as well as helping them along their path in reaching their fullest potential. Growing up I have had a lot of influential teachers and leaders in my life which has helped me to become who I am today. I hope that in some way I can be able to do that for all the children in this preschool program.

My name is Ilse Calland and I am 23 years old. I am currently a student at BYU-Idaho where I will graduate with a BS in Child Development this April. I have been married to the most amazing man, Wes, for almost 2 years. We love boating, camping and spending time with family and friends. I absolutely love working with children, I am truly looking forward to serving and getting to know your children this semester!

Emily Jean Nef has been a student at BYU-Idaho since 2005 and will be graduating this April with a BA degree in Child Development. She has worked before in a Montessori preschool and has also spent a semester as a teacher in the BYU-I preschool. She loves working with young children and hopes to someday open a preschool of her own. Emily Jean was married in 2007 and has one little boy.