Progress 07/01/08 to 06/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Information contained in the last progress report on record will serve as the termination report for this project. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Information contained in last progress report will complete this project.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Two websites were completed and rolled out for dissemination of science-based instructional materials. One of the websites provides handouts, Powerpoint presentations, video vignettes, assessments, and responses to frequently asked questions, regarding feeding young children in group settings. The second website includes trainer materials, instructor materials, and information for students and parents about issues of healthy weight with a focus on nutrition and active physical play. Materials at these sites are consistent with the science based recommendations of the Institute of Medicine Committee on feeding young children in group settings. Particular emphasis on family sensitive strategies is made in the area of lunch box style service in child care programs. A course on feeding children in group settings was offered with a differentiated curriculum that included science based information and choices of assignments that allowed students to access varying levels of knowledge and performance for their learning. A tool was developed and disseminated via conferences to providers and teachers who used the tool to assess their personal practices and to develop visions and plans for change. PARTICIPANTS: Susan L. Johnson, University of Colorado Medical Center, Laurel J. Branen, University of Idaho, Jill Armstrong, Washington State University, Madeliene Sigman Grant, University of Nevada Reno, Satoko Chika, Graduate Student, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Samantha Ramsay, University of Idaho, Laura Holyoke, University of Idaho, and Beth Price, University of Idaho were partners in project activities. Personnel from the California Roundtable provided access to research participants. NAEYC data bases were accessed for lists of survey subjects. Websites for dissemination and materials for professional development were reviewed by child care providers and directors in Idaho STARS, and by members of the California Roundtable, and by conferees at the California Roundtable annual conference. TARGET AUDIENCES: Students in early childhood and nutrition majors, child care providers, Head Start and Early Head Start staff, early childhood program teachers and staff, parents of young children, and nutrition consultants for early childhood programs are target audiences for the project. English and Spanish speaking audiences were served. Material were developed in both English and Spanish. Trainers who work with these audiences are also a primary audience for materials generated from the project. Websites include materials for students, parents, trainers, and staff. Efforts include development and roll out of two comprehensive websites that include materials for classroom instruction, workshop materials including Powerpoint presentations and handouts, and tools for assessing practices for feeding and active play. A differentiated curriculum was developed for a course on feeding young children in group settings, complete with syllabus, assessments, and a range of activities for varying levels and interests of students in child development, early childhood education, and nutrition. An on-line course was offered to over 100 undergraduate students. Conference presenations were made to introduce the websites and tools to the audiences. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Active physical play is recommended as a preventive aspect of obesity in children. Several playground and program evaluation tools have been available for early childhood programs, but these do not address the efforts of individual teachers. This project developed the Thinking About Active Play Self Reflection for use by direct service providers, specifically for teachers and on the ground staff who impact children's play environments and relationships. Teachers and staff used the tool and made action plans to change environments, including changing equipment, ratios, staff strategies, schedules, advocacy efforts, purchasing, and lesson plans. Trainers access the materials at the websites over 10,000 times since July 1, 2011.
Publications
- Ramsay SA. Holyoke L. Branen L.J. Fletcher, J. 2011 Six characteristics of nutrition education videos that support learning and motivation to learn. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (in press)
- Sigman-Grant M. Christiansen E. Fernandez G. Fletcher J. Johnson S.L. Branen L. Price B.A. 2011 Childcare provider training and a supportive feeding environment in child care settings in 4 states, 2003. Preventing Chronic Disease:Public Health Research and Policy 2011:8(5):A11x. http://ww.cdc.gov/ped/issues/2011/sep/10_0224.htm Accessed 11.23.11
- Chika S. Shultz J.A. Johnson S.L. Branen L. Fletcher J. 2011 Attitudes, concerns, and likelihood for action related to young children's overweight among early childhood program staff. Family Community Health 34(1)291-300
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Parent focus group data were gathered. The focus groups addressed parent interactions with early childhood staff, and perspectives of mealtimes in early childhood programs. Data are in analysis. Data concerning childcare provider training and best practice policies and strategies were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. These results, which were gleaned from a large-scale survey study, were disseminated at a peer-reviewed national conference to early childhood teacher educators. Analyses of childcare provider mealtime policies and behaviors and CACFP participation were completed. A manuscript is in press for dissemination via peer-reviewed professional journal in nutrition. A study of video observation as a nutrition education tool was completed, data analyzed, and results reported at two peer-refereed conferences with finding reported and in conference proceedings. A manuscript is in progress. Video observation protocols and guidelines were refined and published on our website for trainers, and in an international early childhood journal. Results of a study of childcare provider's comments at mealtimes with children were published in a peer-reviewed nutrition education journal. PARTICIPANTS: Janice Fletcher, EdD, Professor, University of Idaho Laurel J. Branen, PhD, Professor, University of Idaho Samantha Ramsay, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Idaho Beth Price, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Idaho Laura Holyoke, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Idaho Susan L. Johnson, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Colorado Medical Center Madeliene Sigman-Grant, PhD, Professor, University of Nevada Reno Jill Armstrong, PhD, Professor, Washington State University Training was offered for Head Start programs in Region 10 and for Early Head Start programs in Region 10. Professional development course was offered for students at the University of Idaho. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
My Pyramid, from the USDA.gov website has added materials from our feeding children website. Handouts from our site that explain strategies for verbal interactions of child care providers and children at mealtimes is downloaded frequently. Handouts from the site are research and evidence based and are used by early childhood and nutrition programs i newsletters and staff training. Our website at www.cals.uidaho.edu/feeding includes handouts, video vignettes, and mealtime assessments for early childhood program. These are downloaded by trainers, extension educators, students, and parents.
Publications
- Fletcher, J., Price, E., Branen, L.J. Gathering data using videotape observations: protocols and procedures. Colloquium, Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, Volume 11:2 2010
- Ramsay, S. A., Branen, L. J., Fletcher, J., Johnson, S. L., Price,B, & Sigman-Grant, M., Are you done: Child care providers' verbal communication at mealtimes that reinforce or hinder children's internal cues of hunger and satiation. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2010, 42: 265-270.
- Ramsay, S.A., Branen, L.J., Fletcher, J., and Holyoke, L. Concerns about letting children serve themselves. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior,2010; 42(Suppl 4): S90 2010
- Ramsay, S.A., Holyoke, L., Branen, L.J., & Fletcher, J. Please pass the peas: Hedonistic emotions influence adult motivation to learn about feeding young children. Association for Career and Technical Education Research, 2010.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A survey of child care providers practices around child hood obesity and parent interactions was completed. A graduate thesis resulted. Focus groups of child care providers and parents who have children in child care were analyzed. The Feeding Children in Group Settings website was revised to include 75 handouts for trainers and directors who supervise staff in child care centers. Materials were categorized and cross-matched with videotaped lectures, powerpoint presentations, and handouts.Teaching lectures were video taped, edited, and produced to accompany 70 vignettes of children and teachers eating together in child care settings, engaged in active play indoors and outdoors at child care programs, and child care staff interviews. Selected materials were disseminated through trainings, including training for using the Building Mealtime Environments and Relationships Inventory which was offered for child care providers, Head Start Health Care Coordinators, and preschool teachers, at presentations to the California CACFP Roundtable Annual CACFP Conference and the Wyoming Annual CACFP and Team Nutrition Early Childhood Conference. A workshop was presented to Vermont child care providers, Head Start staff, and child care directors on best practices for feeding children in group settings, through a collaboration with Team Nutrition and the Vermont Department of Education. PARTICIPANTS: Susan L. Johnson, University of Colorado Medical Center, Laurel J. Branen, University of Idaho, Jill Armstrong, Washington State University, and Madeliene Sigman Grant, University of Nevada Reno were partners in project activities. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences are trainers for child care staff, child care staff and Head Start staff, and administrators in child care and Head Start programs. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Trainers and staff in child care programs and Head Start programs have used materials from our website. Newsletters and websites use our materials for their publications. These materials increase knowledge of research-based practices for feeding young children in group settings.
Publications
- Ramsay, S. A., Branen, L. J., Fletcher, J., Johnson, S. L., Price, B, & Sigman-Grant, M. 2009. Are you done Child care providers verbal communication at mealtimes that reinforce or hinder childrens internal cues of hunger and satiation. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (In press) Fletcher, J.,Branen, L.J., Ellefson, C. 2009. Talking Around the Table. National Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Washington, DC Branen, L., Johnson, S.L., Fletcher, J., Anderson, E., Armstrong, J. 2009. Communicating about childhood obesity focus groups of parents and child care providers. Annual meeting of National Research Initiative Principle Investigators Conference, Baltimore, Maryland Chika, S. 2009. Child care providers needs related to supporting healthy eating and preventing obesity for young children in child care centers. Masters thesis, Washington State University
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Many studies about feeding children in group settings focus on the quality of the settings. Most of these studies were examinations of the qualities of menus, the facilities, and adult roles. This project is focused on parent and children perspectives of the mealtime in group settings, including child care centers and Head Start programs. Objective I of this study includes analysis of videotaped observations of narratives and perspectives of children at mealtimes. Existing videotapes of mealtimes in group settings have been isolated for conversations among children with peers and adults at the table. Transcripts have been made of the conversations. Further, a study has been approved by the University of Idaho Institutional Review Board, to interview children in the University of Idaho Child Development Laboratory about their perspectives of serving their own food, sitting and eating with the teacher and others, and their ideas about their skills for eating with the other children in the group settings. An interview protocol has been developed and piloted. Objective II includes a study of parent perspectives and expectations of mealtimes in group settings. Focus groups have been completed of parents in relation to their ideas about mealtimes in group settings.Results of the focus groups were compiled and preliminary analysis was presented to the California CACFP Roundtable for comment and questions. PARTICIPANTS: Jill Armstrong, PhD., Washington State University Laurel J. Branen, PhD., University of Idaho Susan L. Johnson, PhD., University of Denver Jennifer Fountain, B.S., University of Idaho Partners University of Idaho University of Denver Washington State University Branen, L. J., Fletcher, J. (2008). Controversial issues in feeding children in group settings, California Roundtable Annual Conference, Palm Spring, CA Branen, L.J., Johnson, S., Fletcher, J., (2008). What parents and child care providers say about childhood obesity: a research report, California Roundtable Annual Conference, Palm Springs, CA (October, 2008) TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for the project is trainers and administrators in child care and Head Start programs. The underlying effort is to encourage collaboration among teachers, staff, administrators, and parents to offer high quality and healthy mealtimes for children in group settings. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Products from the parent focus groups will be used to inform development of brochures and handouts for trainers who train program staff who provide mealtimes environments for children in group settings. These materials are under development to be disseminated via our website.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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