Observing and Interacting With Families of the Children in Your Setting

During this module I had the opportunity to interact with different colleagues and professionals within the field. I spoke with a teacher who has her Master's in Education. Ms. B.S. currently she teaches 3 to 5 years old few months ago she was teaching two’s year old. I had the opportunity to ask her questions in regards to childhood obesity. Ms. B.S. believes that children that are overweight or obese are that way because families don't realize that being overweight or obese is dangerous for children health. Ms. B.S. believes that professionals can support families to learn about childhood obesity by encouraging parents to volunteer in the classroom. She believes parents should participate and interact in the classroom preparing nutritious meals with their children. Ms. B S. believes teachers can do activities relating to the food pyramid and read or ask parent to read books relating to healthy eating. Ms. B.S. strongly believes that professionals need to know how to approach and talk to parents about their childhood obesity. Parents might think they are being attacked and they might feel they are bad parents. She said that "the key is to be cautious" because some professionals are not sensitive as they talk to parents or children about their weight or eating habits. Ms. B.S. said it is important to allow children to participate in activities that interest them, even though children that are obese find it difficult to run and climb. If they would just do some sort of activity for one hour 3 to 4 days a week they would have less chances to become obese. It is important to let children be themselves don't push them to do physical activities that might hurt them, but continue to encourage them to run and play some kind of sports so it can be fun as they exercise. After talking to colleagues and other professionals within the field I learned that it is important to involve parent in the education of their children. I learned different strategies to get parents involved in the classroom such as sending a letter home inviting parents to participate in our weekly Food Experience and sending home a letter about the activities children do during the week. I also learned that classroom participation is critical for parent. The insights I gained from observing, and interacting with professionals, teachers, and families is that by building relationships teachers and parents can work together as team tour the same goal