Promoting a healthy childcare environment: A focus group study of childcare providers' perspectives

Establishing healthy habits in the childcare setting for children aged 2–5 is pivotal for their healthy development and obesity prevention. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and practices that childcare providers demonstrate when they promote healthy eating and phy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nursing & health sciences 2020-06, Vol.22 (2), p.254-262
Main Authors: Park, So Hyun, Min, Haeyoung
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Child care
Child Care - methods
Child development
Child, Preschool
childcare
Childhood obesity
Content analysis
Day care centers
Florida
focus group interview
Focus groups
Focus Groups - methods
Habits
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health promotion
Health Promotion - methods
Health Promotion - standards
Healthy food
Healthy habits
Humans
Male
Nursing
Obesity
Parent participation
Parents & parenting
Physical activity
Preschool children
Prevention programs
Qualitative Research
qualitative study
School Teachers - psychology
School Teachers - standards
School Teachers - statistics & numerical data
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Summary:Establishing healthy habits in the childcare setting for children aged 2–5 is pivotal for their healthy development and obesity prevention. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and practices that childcare providers demonstrate when they promote healthy eating and physical activity among preschoolers. Four focus group interviews with 16 childcare providers were conducted in northwest Florida. A semistructured focus group guide was used. Discussions were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was performed to analyze the data with the use of ATLAS.ti software. This study followed the COREQ guidelines. Three major themes emerged from the data: (i) efforts to encourage children to eat healthfully and engage in physical activity; (ii) challenges in promoting healthy behaviors among children; and (iii) the need for more childcare provider training and parental involvement to encourage healthy eating. Regular childcare provider training and parental involvement are needed to establish a healthy environment for preschoolers.
ISSN:1441-0745
1442-2018
DOI:10.1111/nhs.12675