Developing connections between healthy living and environmental sustainability concepts in Cretan preschool children: a randomized trial

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to enhance young children’s knowledge of healthy eating, active play and environmental sustainability through play-based activities developed by nursery educators in Crete, Greece. Intervention group children received 4–6 weeks of curriculum activities, and their knowledge about healthy eating, active play and sustainability concepts was measured before, post-curriculum and 3-months after the intervention. Children’s eating or physical activity habits were measured at the same time points. The intervention group significantly increased its knowledge about the connection between healthy living and sustainability, sustained high fruit and vegetable intake immediately post intervention and increased levels of physical activity 3-months post intervention, when compared to the control group. The findings highlight that young children can build their knowledge of health and sustainability concepts, and make more informed choices about healthy eating and physical activity. The preschool setting can play a role in health promotion and develop much-needed environmental consciousness among young children.

KEYWORDS:

• Healthy eating
• environmental sustainability
• play-based learning
• physical activity
• intervention

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ekaterina N. Kornilaki

Ekaterina N. Kornilaki is an assistant professor of developmental psychology in the Department of Preschool Education, University of Crete, Greece. She teaches courses on developmental psychology and children’s mathematical thinking. Her research interests focus on social and emotional development, the psychosocial consequences of obesity and the understanding of death concepts.

Helen Skouteris

Professor Helen Skouteris is a developmental psychologist and expert in health behaviour change and women’s and children’s health, especially in relation to obesity prevention. Professor Skouteris works in implementation research and evaluation projects focused on improving health and developmental outcomes for women, children and adolescents. Her current research is around building active capacity in ‘the consumer’ to make healthy lifestyle choices across preconception, pregnancy, preschool, and childhood, including adolescence, to reduce the burden of obesity.

Heather Morris

Dr Heather Morris is an early career research fellow in the Health and Social Care Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University. Her research interests are in parenting and family support, policy and complexity, and she is passionate about working directly with community service organisations. Using her expertise in implementation science and practice, qualitative research, and experience-based co-design, she supports the large scale implementation of programs and services to strengthen their health and social care outcomes.