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The Collection
The Children’s Nutrition Collection Database
This database is designed to provide librarians and teachers with the ability to search for specific books and other media that support the nutrition education topics outlined in the CA Department of Education’s SHAPE Nutrition Competencies for Children in grades Pre-K to grade 3. Parents may find it useful to search the database or to simply use the Recommended Book Lists for Children which were designed for general use outside the classroom setting. For practical tips on how to use this database to support nutrition education refer to Suggestions for Using the Collection.
Click Here to Search Database
About This Project
Background:
The rising rates of obesity and diet related chronic disease in the U.S., especially among children, are clear signs that many Americans truly do not understand the vital role of a healthy diet and adequate physical activity in maintaining their health. Educating both children and their families about healthy eating and activity habits is a crucial step in addressing this serious problem.
Children love stories, and the stories that are part of their daily lives often profoundly influence how they act and what they value. It is an interesting paradox that in this information age, so few children are making the connection relating how food and physical activity can affect their overall health. The idea for this Project came about while exploring ways in which our culture could significantly increase the number of stories being told that relate healthy foods, physical activity and good health. It is our hope that this Project will inspire children and their families to value positive stories about food, fitness and health, and to integrate more 'Healthy Habits,' into their daily lives.
This LSTA pilot Project was funded through the North Bay Cooperative Library System to develop a special library-based collection of up-to-date and accurate nutrition and physical activity books and resources for children at the Novato Public Library in Marin County, CA. In addition, the Project supports several collaborative community nutrition education events for children and their families which have featured the library-based Children's Nutrition Collection (CNC) materials. These events included a PJ Storytime featuring a pediatrician from Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center reading a story from the CNC to local children and their families, and a training seminar for all public and school children’s librarians in Marin County teaching them how to use CNC materials to support nutrition education for children and families in their local communities. The pilot Project also includes this website as well as supplemental materials for use by public and school librarians, parents, teachers and children.
Committee of Health and Library Professionals:
All materials in the CNC were carefully selected by a Registered Dietitian working in collaboration with the Children's Librarian at the Novato Public Library, Materials were also reviewed for accuracy and appropriateness by a committee of child health professionals from the Marin County Children and Weight Coalition who share a common goal to serve the community by providing useful and practical information to improve the health and lives of Marin County residents.
CNC events and website development were supported by the Project Team in collaboration with Novato Libraries.
California public libraries are partners in supporting children’s health. For more information about the Children’s Nutrition Collection, please contact your local public library.
The Health Media Environment for Young People
A growing body of research about media, culture and health indicates some recurring themes about the health media environment for children today.
- A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that youth between 8 and 18 years old spend on average 6 ½ hours per day using non-school related forms of electronic media. During about a quarter of this time, children are using two or more forms of media simultaneously, this translates to 8 ½ hours of media messages every day, which is more time than the hours spent in the classroom.
- The advertising industry has proven that advertisements targeted directly to children affect their choices about foods, beverages and lifestyle. A Report from the Institute of Medicine (2005) cites research showing that "more than half of TV advertisements directed at children promote foods and beverages such as candy, fast food, snack foods, soft drinks, and sweetened breakfast cereals that are high in calories and fat, and low in fiber and other essential nutrients." The report concludes that “current food and beverage marketing practices put children’s long-term health at risk.”
- A task force of the American Psychological Association reports that with just TV viewing time, the average American child today is exposed to an estimated 40,000 television commercials a year, and has recommended advertising restrictions for children less than 8 years old citing research showing that children below this age are “unable to critically comprehend televised advertising messages and are prone to accept advertiser messages as truthful, accurate and unbiased."
How Materials Were Chosen
For accuracy, consistency and the widest applicability, CNC materials were chosen to match the nutrition topics defined by the Nutrition Competencies for California’s Children identified by the California Department of Education for grades Pre-K to grade 3. The California Department of Education characterizes nutrition competencies in the following way:
"The nutrition competencies define what students need to know and be able to do at each grade level to make healthy choices that build lifestyles as a foundation for well-being and success in school and in life. Curriculum leaders and teachers can use this tool to determine the priority nutrition concepts and skills to emphasize in their classrooms and a scope and sequence for nutrition-related health education curricula. This document supplements the California State Board of Education-adopted Health Framework for California Public Schools with nutrition-specific competencies."
For more information about the Nutrition Competencies, please visit the CA Department of Education website:http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/he/nec.asp
In addition to addressing topics outlined in the Nutrition Competencies, the Project has placed on selecting CNC materials that promote a positive approach to child nutrition focusing on healthy diet and activity habits rather than weight loss. Using a positive approach along with healthful changes that involve the whole family has been proven to improve a child's self-esteem and is less likely to lead to negative eating issues.
Click Here to view the list of specific book selection criteria that were used in selecting CNC materials.
Suggestions for Using the Collection
During the search for appropriate nutrition books for this Collection it became clear there is a shortage of up-to-date stories about nutrition, healthy habits and how to best deal with the current nutritional issues facing children. Therefore, a broad selection of materials is included in the CNC database section of this website. Specific selection criteria are detailed under “How Materials Were Chosen” above. Materials in the CNC Database meet the majority of these book selection criteria. However, some materials are strong in many areas but may be weaker in one particular area. To improve the usefulness of the CNC Database for nutrition teaching purposes discrepancies are identified and noted in the description section for each book entry, and includes suggestions of appropriate support materials or discussion questions to improve usefulness.
In addition, for use outside the classroom, selected “Recommended Book Lists for Children” were created by the Project’s committee of child health professionals. These short lists of “best books” are considered to adequately meet the book selection criteria, and appropriate to stand alone as a valid source of nutrition and physical activity information for children and their families.
Recommended Book Lists for Children
Tips for Young Cooks
Click here for ideas, cookbooks and website resources to encourage and support young cooks.
Recommended Websites
Click here for website recommendations to support Healthy Habits for families and children.
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