Family Nutrition - Nutrition to Promote Growth

Families will plan good food for children in order to promote proper growth.

 

Objective

Families will plan good food for children to promote proper growth.

Lesson Preparation

Before the lesson find growth charts for children. They should be available from the local health department.

Concepts to be Taught

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1. Children's growth progress can be measured by growth charts.

2. Parents need to watch for signs of poor nutrition in their children.

3. Little children need special care so that they get the right amounts of food everyday.

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Introduction

Tell the story: Sr. Ramirez took great care in how his corn crop grew. He carefully planted it, watered it, fertilized it and kept the weeds out so they didn't choke out the young corn plants as they started to grow. Sr. Ramirez would go to his fields daily to measure the growth and progress of his corn (#1). As it grew, he knew if it was growing normally by the height of the stalk. Ask: Why is it important to monitor the growth of the corn? Why would it be important to monitor the growth of your children?

Concept #1

Children's growth progress can be measured by growth charts.

When children are young it is often difficult to tell if they are growing properly. The health clinic or your family doctor will have the charts that will tell what is an appropriate size for a young child (#2). They will often have growth charts that include the measurements of height, weight and arm circumference.

Learning Activity #1

Using a growth chart, measure and weigh a child and compare their size to the growth chart.

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Concept #2

Parents need to watch for signs of poor nutrition in their children.

Children are particularly susceptible to problems of poor nutrition. One of the biggest problems they face is poor nutrition due to diarrhea. Diarrhea can be treated through oral rehydration therapy (#3). (See the Lesson 5.3 on treatment of diarrhea.)

Children can also suffer from malnutrition due to the lack of certain nutrients in their diet (#4). Sometimes they do not get enough food and suffer from what is called protein-energy malnutrition. They lack energy, will be susceptible to many kinds of illnesses and diseases, may have a bloated stomach with skinny arms and legs, and my have light colored hair that falls out easily. Children may also suffer from specific nutrient deficiencies such as Vitamin A.

Rehabilitating malnourished children (#5).

Learning Activity #2

Family will evaluate if anyone in their family has signs of malnutrition and that they can do about it.

Concept #3

Little children need special care so that they get the right amounts of food everyday (#6).

Sometimes children do not get enough food the eat because:

• they do not eat very fast with utensils

• they forget to eat as they watch others

• other family members eat all the food

• the food is too spicy for children to eat

• they eat snacks and they are not hungry for food at meals

• they go to school without food for the day

Ask: How can these problems be eliminated?

Learning Activity #3

Discuss the situation in the family if little children are in the home. How can their eating habits be made better?

List of figures for lesson 4.4

(Click on the numbered links below to view and print full-sized figures.)

1. It is important to measure the crops to see if they are growing properly (Sr. Ramirez in his corn).

2. Children can be weighed and measured to monitor their growth.

3. Children can be treated with Oral Rehydration Therapy for diarrhea.

4. A malnourished child has certain symptoms.

5. We can care for a malnourished child with proper feeding.

6. A child needs to eat regularly in appropriate amounts.

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