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Physical and mental health for young children
Physical and mental health for young children

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Further reading

There are many resources that are available to support you in your health promotion interventions. Below, are some that have been used successfully in settings. You may have other resources that you find useful.

1 Healthy eating

Healthy eating guidance published for the early years sector from the Department for Education and published on the Gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/ government/ news/ healthy-eating-guidance-published-for-the-early-years-sector [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]

Influencing healthy eating habits through early years settings guidance published on Public Health England website: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/ 2017/ 11/ 28/ influencing-healthy-eating-habits-through-early-years-settings/

2 Physical activity

National Day Nurseries Association ‘Healthy Body, Happy Me’ nursery resources: https://www.ndna.org.uk/ NDNA/ Campaigns/ Healthy_Body_Happy_Me/ HBHM.aspx

UK Chief Medical Officers’ Physical Activity Guidelines – September 2019. Available from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ media/ 5d839543ed915d52428dc134/ uk-chief-medical-officers-physical-activity-guidelines.pdf

Free course produced by The Open University in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency and Active Matters Supporting Physical Development in Early Childhood: https://www.futurelearn.com/ courses/ supporting-physical-development-early-childhood

Free course produced by The Open University on the importance of the outdoors and nature in child development: https://www.open.edu/ openlearn/ education-development/ young-children-the-outdoors-and-nature/ content-section-overview

3 Dental health

Child oral health: applying All Our Health guidance that is available on the Public Health England website. In particular scroll down to look at the top 3 interventions for preventing tooth decay: https://www.gov.uk/ government/ publications/ child-oral-health-applying-all-our-health/ child-oral-health-applying-all-our-health

4 Prevention of infection

Health protection in schools and other childcare facilities: guidance available on the Public Health England website: https://www.gov.uk/ government/ publications/ health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities

Managing specific infectious diseases guidance available on the Public Health England website: https://www.gov.uk/ government/ publications/ health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities/ chapter-9-managing-specific-infectious-diseases

5 Mental health

The mental health of children and young people in England guidance available on the Public Health England website: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ government/ uploads/ system/ uploads/ attachment_data/ file/ 575632/ Mental_health_of_children_in_England.pdf

Anna Freud Centre: Early Years in Mind is a free online network for early years practitioners. https://www.annafreud.org/ early-years/

Free course produced by Early Childhood at The Open University Supporting children’s health and wellbeing: https://www.open.edu/ openlearn/ education-development/ supporting-childrens-mental-health-and-wellbeing/ content-section-overview

Free course produced by Early Childhood at The Open University Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: https://www.open.edu/ openlearn/ education-development/ supporting-childrens-mental-health-and-wellbeing/ content-section-overview

PACEY Starting school together: preparing your child for starting school: https://www.pacey.org.uk/ Pacey/ media/ Website-files/ school%20ready/ 12977-Pacey-Starting-School-Together-Booklet-A5.pdf