The early child period is considered the most important developmental phase throughout the lifespan. The 95th Nestlé Nutrition Institute Workshop explored in some detail the current scientific research, challenges, and opportunities of cementing a healthy foundation for life in toddlers and young children. The workshop brought together experts in the areas of health care, public health, and developmental science. The first session focused on the nutritional challenges in toddlers and young children across the globe, such as overweight and obesity. The theme of the second session elucidated the journey from infancy to toddlerhood and the role of nutrition in it, focusing social aspects. And finally, the third session aimed to explain the steps of motor skill development and the role of physical activities and nutrition in cognitive development and learning abilities of a child. The key issues offer valuable insights for health care providers, policy makers, and researchers on how appropriate nutrition, nurturing caregiving, and environment can influence the development and health of children up to 5 years of age.

Children are the foundation of the United States, and supporting them is a key component of building a successful future. However, millions of children face health inequities that compromise their development, well-being, and long-term outcomes, despite substantial scientific evidence about how those adversities contribute to poor health. Advancements in neurobiological and socio-behavioral science show that critical biological systems develop in the prenatal through early childhood periods, and neurobiological development is extremely responsive to environmental influences during these stages. Consequently, social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors significantly affect a child's health ecosystem and ability to thrive throughout adulthood. Vibrant and Healthy Kids: Aligning Science, Practice, and Policy to Advance Health Equity builds upon and updates research from Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity (2017) and From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development (2000). This report provides a brief overview of stressors that affect childhood development and health, a framework for applying current brain and development science to the real world, a roadmap for implementing tailored interventions, and recommendations about improving systems to better align with our understanding of the significant impact of health equity.

Positive psychology—the study and promotion of character strengths, positive emotion, optimism, and resilience—has gained considerable momentum and support over the last 20 years. More recently, neuropsychology has begun to embrace related perspectives. In the first edition of Positive Neuropsychology, an extensive collection of perspectives from national leaders in neuropsychology clarified the importance of promoting cognitive health through various means. The present edition expands on the first edition, with four new chapters and updates of all previous chapters. Topics include the importance of physical, social, and intellectual engagement across the lifespan; nutrition and brain health; novel technologies used to maintain brain health and functional independence; compensating for and preventing cognitive limitations; and strategies to promote brain health in clinical and other settings. Chapters reveal not only the benefits of understanding cognitive health and optimal outcomes across the lifespan, but also emerging avenues for practitioners to expand their work into non-traditional settings. Bringing new dimensions to the neuroscience, wellness, and positive psychology literatures, Positive Neuropsychology will interest a wide range of academics and clinicians, including neuropsychologists, clinical and health psychologists, geriatricians, primary care physicians, cognitive neuroscientists, and other healthcare professionals.

Decades of research have demonstrated that the parent-child dyad and the environment of the familyâ€"which includes all primary caregiversâ€"are at the foundation of children's well- being and healthy development. From birth, children are learning and rely on parents and the other caregivers in their lives to protect and care for them. The impact of parents may never be greater than during the earliest years of life, when a child's brain is rapidly developing and when nearly all of her or his experiences are created and shaped by parents and the family environment. Parents help children build and refine their knowledge and skills, charting a trajectory for their health and well-being during childhood and beyond. The experience of parenting also impacts parents themselves. For instance, parenting can enrich and give focus to parents' lives; generate stress or calm; and create any number of emotions, including feelings of happiness, sadness, fulfillment, and anger. Parenting of young children today takes place in the context of significant ongoing developments. These include: a rapidly growing body of science on early childhood, increases in funding for programs and services for families, changing demographics of the U.S. population, and greater diversity of family structure. Additionally, parenting is increasingly being shaped by technology and increased access to information about parenting. Parenting Matters identifies parenting knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with positive developmental outcomes in children ages 0-8; universal/preventive and targeted strategies used in a variety of settings that have been effective with parents of young children and that support the identified knowledge, attitudes, and practices; and barriers to and facilitators for parents' use of practices that lead to healthy child outcomes as well as their participation in effective programs and services. This report makes recommendations directed at an array of stakeholders, for promoting the wide-scale adoption of effective programs and services for parents and on areas that warrant further research to inform policy and practice. It is meant to serve as a roadmap for the future of parenting policy, research, and practice in the United States.

How do children’s early physical experiences influence their future health and well-being? What are the future consequences of a sedentary childhood on life chances and health? What importance do we place in the UK on sleep, fresh air, good nutrition and movement? The Growing Child thoughtfully discusses the key principles of children’s physical development alongside descriptions of everyday practice. It looks in detail at all aspects of physical development including exercise, diet, sleep and how these link to the development of the whole child. The book considers key learning dispositions such as perseverance, determination, confidence, responsibility, courage and curiosity and shows how physical play helps to develop children’s organisational skills, team work, risk management, communication and raise their self-esteem. Drawing on the author’s own experience of running a Forest School nursery, the book aims to help practitioners to: create rich and stimulating play environments that enable children to learn, make connections and explore using their whole bodies; reflect on their own teaching methods to encourage children’s engagement, motivation and creativity through effective observation and planning; engage with parents and carers to help support children’s learning at home whilst maintaining the values of the family; celebrate the uniqueness of each child and provide learning experiences that are appropriate for individuals with particular learning needs, be they physical, emotional or cognitive to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to succeed. The first seven years of life provide distinct opportunities to lay the foundations for a positive, successful and happy life; it is essential that this is underpinned with a sound knowledge of child development. Emphasising the importance of understanding the theory that underpins children’s physical development, this accessible text shows practitioners how they can use this knowledge to provide learning opportunities that nourish children’s health, learning and well-being.

Children's health has clearly improved over the past several decades. Significant and positive gains have been made in lowering rates of infant mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases and accidental causes, improved access to health care, and reduction in the effects of environmental contaminants such as lead. Yet major questions still remain about how to assess the status of children's health, what factors should be monitored, and the appropriate measurement tools that should be used. Children's Health, the Nation's Wealth: Assessing and Improving Child Health provides a detailed examination of the information about children's health that is needed to help policy makers and program providers at the federal, state, and local levels. In order to improve children's health-and, thus, the health of future generations-it is critical to have data that can be used to assess both current conditions and possible future threats to children's health. This compelling book describes what is known about the health of children and what is needed to expand the knowledge. By strategically improving the health of children, we ensure healthier future generations to come.

Getting young children active and supporting their physical development right from the start is essential for children’s all-round development and good health. However, children’s levels of physical activity are declining. This book helps readers increase their understanding to support young children’s overall development, health, and wellbeing. Breaking current physical activity guidelines into bite-size chunks, the book provides key advice on caring for and educating babies and young children on how to meet the recommended amount of physical activity each day. Current research is accessibly explored, including links with screen time and neuroscience, and informs a range of flexible, open-ended activities and practical strategies to use in every early years setting. Chapters include: Suggestions on planning an enabling environment to support young children’s physical development without expensive equipment or classes. Steps for making physical activity inclusive for all children, including those with special educational needs and physical conditions. Key research translated into easy-to-understand, informative guidance. The voice of the child and the importance of listening to children woven throughout. Opportunities for readers to assess how their own setting supports physical activity. The importance of early physical development to communication and future academic performance. Grounded in best practice for supporting physical development in the early years and working with parents, this book is essential reading for trainee and practising early years educators, as well as parents and carers of young children.