Evidence shows that sensory food play and exploration help children develop positive relationships with healthy food. But a patchwork approach to sensory food play in nurseries and preschools means many early years children miss out on this vital learning opportunity. It’s time for this to change.
For the past two decades, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the relationship between children, food and health.
One of my areas of specialism is neophobia: a fear of tasting new things. Research shows that neophobia is linked to limited fruit and vegetable consumption, and with only 18 per cent of children aged between five and 10 currently eating the recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day, understanding the factors that drive neophobia is a critical part of my work.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here