ACADEMIC COURSE SYLLABUS
FEEDING YOUNG CHILDREN
IN GROUP SETTINGS
FCS 435

Students who are taking the course for credit
must be registered with the University of Idaho.
(Click here for more information about how to register)

Those who register for academic credit
for Spring 2003 must complete
all coursework by May 2, 2003.

Those who register for academic credit
for Fall 2003 must complete
all coursework by December 5, 2003.

Instructors:

Laurel Branen, PhD, R.D., L.D.
Phone: 208-292-2544

Janice Fletcher, Ed.D.
Phone: 208-885-7321

Fax: 208-885-5751

E-Mail: feeding@uidaho.edu

Text:

How to Get Your Kid to Eat, But Not Too Much,
Ellyn Satter

You may order this book from on-line bookstores, local bookstores, or Bull Publishing
PO Box 208, Palo Alto, CA 94302-0208
(phone: 800-676-2855)

Target Audience:

This course is developed for professionals in Cooperative Extension, students and professionals in child development and nutrition, child care providers, Head Start staff, dietitians, and food service workers.

Academic Course Goal:

This course increases awareness concerning best practices in feeding young children. Practical, hands on activities and assignments are included in the course.

Academic Course Objectives:

Participants will:

1. Know developmentally appropriate strategies for providing food to young children in group settings.
   
   
2. Know basic nutritional needs of young children.
   
   
3. Know strategies for safely preparing and presenting food to young children in group settings.

Academic Course Requirements:

Students who register for academic credit for
Feeding Young Children in Group Settings must
have access to the Internet and must be registered
at the University of Idaho.

This course is graded PASS/FAIL.

To receive a grade of pass students will:

1. View all four video sessions.
   
   
2. Read the assigned chapters from
   How to Get Your Kid to Eat, But Not Too Much.
   
   
3. Write a one-paragraph web response to each session and its related reading.
   
   
4. Complete two activities for each session.
   
   
   
5. Design and carry out a practical project for observing, changing, or evaluating some
   aspect of feeding young children.
   
   
6. Complete all required assignments by the posted due dates.

The Project:

The project should focus on some aspect of feeding young children in group settings. Make this project one that relates to your own learning needs or setting. Sample ideas for projects are listed on the project section of the web course.
Be sure to include your objective for the project
when you submit your final project.

Students who are enrolled for academic credit will receive a grade of pass or fail, based on the following:

1. Responses to sessions and readings
   
   
2. Completion of activities
   
   
3. Project

Content Summary

This course integrates child development, nutrition, and food safety concepts for feeding young children
in group settings. The course includes four, two-hour video sessions. Students who take the course for academic credit must have access to the web and must complete additional course activities using our web course materials.

Course Schedule

Session One

The Six Principles for
Feeding Young Children in Group Settings

This session helps you see the relationships
among child development, nutrition, and food safety. You will learn how adults can support children during mealtimes.

Session Two

Creating a Developmentally Sound
Feeding Environment

What skills do children develop at mealtime?
When can children serve themselves?
Why should adults eat meals with children?
This session describes how to create a mealtime environment that meets your children’s
developmental needs and offers them opportunities
to learn group skills, skills for delaying gratification, language skills, and self-help skills.

Session Three

Choices for Children’s Health and Well-being

Should children clean their plates?
How do I choose what to serve?
What should I consider as I decide
how to present food to children?
What is my role with my child who is obese?
In this session, you will examine factors to keep in mind when choosing foods to keep children healthy.

Session Four

Common Questions about Feeding

Should our center require a "no thank-you" bite?
Is it safe to let children serve themselves?
What do I do when parental values conflict with
those of my program?
You will learn how to use the six feeding principles
to answer questions from parents and staff.