Health,
Safety, &
Nutrition
for the Young Child

Children’s state of wellness has an unquestionable effect on their development and ability to learn.
Our understanding of the factors that shape and influence a child’s well-being, including nutrition, environmental conditions, and emotional and social development continues to improve as
a result of ongoing research and new discoveries. In turn, this information has led to noteworthy
changes in our views about health, approaches to health care, and the critical importance of
addressing health education during the early years. It has also contributed to the development of
numerous resources (e.g., National Health Education Standards, MyPlate, Healthy People 2030,
NAEYC’s Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals, National
Health and Safety Performance Standards for Child Care) that currently guide personal and
classroom practices. Additionally, our knowledge of wellness and the importance of promoting
healthy lifestyle behaviors draws increasing attention to the pivotal role that teachers play in identifying children’s health needs, creating high-quality environments that support learning and are
safe, and providing comprehensive health education in schools