Importance of Nutrition and Healthy Eating Habits for SEN children
6th October 2017
Nutritious food is the most important part of a
child’s proper growth and development. However it is also a point of concern
for most parents and child care givers. Most kids are fussy eaters, who only
tend to like the tasty fried foods. If your child happens to be one of them,
then you certainly need to have knowledge on how to develop an eating habit of
various taste and textures. Developing eating habits therefore that promote the
proper adequate growth is quintessential for caregivers/parents and teachers
alike.
If you are a parent with children at home having disabilities
or for Special Educators and
care-givers who need to provide the correct guidance to the children so as to
promote their all-round development and explore their potentials, besides
knowing the correct approaches of effective handling, they also need to have an
unadulterated knowledge on the requirement of balanced diet for the SEN kids. As most of the habits and mannerisms that a
child picks up during his growing up years, is continued even in his adolescent
age, eating habits being no different, hence good eating habits need to be developed
in the early childhood period. The requirement of nutrition and a well-balanced
diet must be developed from early childhood so that it may be carried forward
even later on in their life and affect both their mental and physical health.
Also since most of the growth and development take place within 5 to 6 years of
age, hence having a well-balanced nutritious diet at this time is of utmost
necessity.
Benefits
of Health and Nutrition Courses
Apart from consulting with a
dietician/paediatrician, it is therefore necessary for the Special Education teachers, caregivers and parents to have a sound
knowledge on the dietary requirement for the child. Having a sound knowledge on
the various food groups and their nutritional value will ensure that you are
able to provide the right food to the child and in the correct amount.
Pursuing courses on Health and Nutrition will therefore
acquaint you with the complex relationship between food, health and nutrition,
how various mental illnesses may arise due to wrong eating habits, and how creating
good dietary habits is absolutely essential. If you are a parent of a child
with special needs or a SEN teacher or a teacher managing an inclusive
classroom this course will not only provide you with the adequate knowledge but
an edge over others.