“Learning Nutrition Through Games: Why Movement-Based Activities are Better than Classroom Teaching”

one set of kids learning in a classroom and one set learning through a game.

If you’re reading this, then you probably already know that nutrition education is a key component of a healthy lifestyle, and that children need to understand the value of proper nutrition. You might also be aware that schools are one of the best settings to educate young people and promote healthy habits. Basically, because lots of children can be reached there, relatively easily! However, what you might not know is that the traditional classroom setting may not be the best way to teach kids about nutrition. Research has shown that interactive games and activities are much more effective for teaching nutrition to young children.

One reason why interactive games are more effective than classroom teaching is because they engage children in active learning. Movement-based activities help children to remember information by connecting it to physical movements, making it easier for them to recall. For example, a game called “Fruit Salad” can be used to teach children about the different types of fruits. During the game, the children move around the room and when they hear the name of a fruit, they have to move to the corresponding area of the room. This helps to reinforce the names of the fruits and encourages the children to remember them.

In addition, interactive activities can be used to teach children about the benefits of healthy eating. The “Nutrition Race” is a game where children are divided into teams and have to race to collect healthy food items. Through this game, children learn about the importance of eating a balanced diet and the benefits of consuming nutritious foods.

Interactive activities are also a great way of teaching children about the effects of unhealthy eating. For example, a game called “The Unhealthy Eating Relay” can be used to teach children about the dangers of eating unhealthy foods. In this game, teams have to race to collect unhealthy food items and then the teams have to face the consequences of their unhealthy eating. This game helps children to understand the negative effects of unhealthy eating and encourages them to make healthier food choices.

Overall, interactive games and activities are more effective for teaching nutrition to young children than classroom teaching. Not only do these activities engage children in active learning, but they also help to reinforce the concepts of healthy eating and the dangers of unhealthy eating. By using, “movement-based activities”, children can learn about nutrition in a fun, engaging and active way. 

#learnthroughplay #healthystarthealthyfutures #tots2teenfitness #movementbasedactivities

References:

  1. Gonzalez, M. (2018). 8 Fun Nutrition Games and Activities for Kids
  2. Perez, M. (2018). Nutrition Education Games for Kids.
  3. Vieira & Carvalho (2021), Children Learn, Children Do! Results of the “Planning Health in school”, a behaviour change programme.

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