We want healthy children that grow into healthy adults. However, in New Hampshire, in 2021 59% of parents mentioned a concern with their child's behavior, development or learning.1 In 2023, among children aged 1-5, 49% did not eat vegetables daily and 32% were not eating fruit daily.2 Additionally, issues such as obesity disproportionally affects families with low incomes, as well as families of color. At UNH Extension, we are working to provide support to early childhood populations in a variety of ways while addressing the social determinants of health that impact the whole child, as well as their families and the educators that regularly support them to bring evidence-based research into the early childhood community.
Kendra Lewis and Kate Graves have been working together at UNH Extension to reach early childhood populations, through both direct education as well as through the improvement of policies, systems and environmental factors. For example, two direct education curricula have begun piloting over the last couple of years. These include Husky Reads (curriculum from the Connecticut Huskys) Nutrition Education curriculum, as well as a new adapted Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies curriculum. After the Husky Reads Nutrition Education lessons conducted in 2024, 75% of educators reported that children were more aware of nutrition. The Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies curriculum features an integration of social-emotional and mindful learning with nutrition and physical activity. UNH Extension Educators have been working throughout the state to begin piloting and collecting evaluation data on behavior changes associated with these lessons. For the Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies lessons, one parent stated, “we found the information helpful and it gave us a better understanding of emotions and how to express them. We enjoyed "the grouchies" exercise and use it to help express when we're feeling grumpy and cheer each other up. The handouts we're given go up on the fridge or around the house where they can be seen. My son points them out and we talk about what they say.”
In addition to direct education, the adapted Sesame Street Healthy Habits for Life curricula has been put online for Early Childhood Educators to regularly incorporate nutrition and physical activity into their classrooms. Some mindfulness activities have also been added onto this online platform to provide early childhood educators with an array of curriculum materials together in an online portal. These online resources, along with direct education lessons from UNH Extension Educators, are affectionately known as the WELL Bundle. WELL stands for Wellness Education for Little Learners. Not only do these offerings work to meet required classroom needs but they also aim to take some burden from Early Childhood Educators in lesson planning. Additionally, some Head Start sites have been working with UNH Extension to get gardens started at their sites, utilizing other UNH Extension offerings such as the Free Seeds Program as well as the Master Gardener Program.
Kate and Kendra are not the only two staff at UNH involved in Early Childhood programming. They are working with staff and faculty from UNH Collage of Life Sciences and Agriculture, the UNH College of Health and Human Services and the UNH Institute for Health Policy and Practice to create positive changes in the lives of children and their caregivers. The goal for staff is to bring evidence-based research into the early childhood community. The incorporation of social-emotional learning, mindfulness, nutrition and physical activity is one step in a positive direction for New Hampshire, highlighting a focus for the state onto their early childhood populations. Traditionally, health outcomes have been split into either physical or mental health. At UNH Extension, Kate and Kendra are taking strides to address the whole child, while improving the New Hampshire landscape from home to classroom, considering the full picture of influence for children.
References:
- National Center for Children in Poverty (2021). New Hampshire Preschool Development Grant Implementation Year Needs Assessment. https://chhs.unh.edu/sites/default/files/media/2022/02/2020-21_nh_needs_assessment_final_report.pdf
- Ksargent. (2024, June 4). Kids’ consumption of fruits, vegetables, and sugary drinks. State of Childhood Obesity. https://stateofchildhoodobesity.org/kids-fruit-vegetable-sugary-drinks-…
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