Health Promotion of the Preschooler and Family

The preschool period begins at about three years of age and lasts until about six years of age. During this stage, physical growth is maintained at a slow and steady pace, whereas cognitive and psychosocial development begin to accelerate. To promote the health of your preschool-age patient, you’ll support the child’s nutrition and their language and psychosocial development.

Nutrition during the preschool period should include a variety of nutrient-dense foods to support the child’s growth, development, and activity levels. At the beginning of the preschool period, the child will have all their deciduous, or primary teeth, which allows them to eat a variety of foods, so this is a good time for caregivers to offer a range of healthy foods for their preschoolers to try.

You can promote good nutrition by teaching caregivers how to help their child develop good eating habits. Begin by reminding them that their child’s eating habits can change during their preschool years. For instance, let them know that although the typical 3- to 4-year-old will still have distinct food preferences, older preschoolers tend to be more willing to try new types of foods. Likewise, younger preschoolers may have difficulty sitting down for the entire duration of a meal, while older preschoolers can start learning table manners and how to sit for the duration of a meal.

Also encourage caregivers to help their preschoolers learn the social aspects of mealtimes by offering food at regular times, minimizing distractions during mealtimes, and teaching their child that mealtimes are not only a time to enjoy good food, but a fun time to spend together. Be sure to teach them that the quality of their child’s food is more important than the quantity eaten, so remind them that they shouldn’t force their child to remain at the dinner table until all their food is eaten, as this can make mealtimes unpleasant and lead to overeating.

Teach them to provide three meals and two snacks per day, consisting of a variety of nutritionally dense foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products like milk, yogurt, as well as iron-fortified cereals. Also emphasize the importance of limiting the amount of fruit juice and sweetened beverages their child consumes, as these are typically non-nutritive and can lead to dental caries.