This thesis focuses on the preschool teacher's role in helping preschoolers develop healthy eating habits. An attempt was made to determine her or his attitude toward the principle of choice and diversity, the principle of equal opportunities and recognizing diversity among children, as well as the principle of multiculturalism.
The theoretical sections deal with the criteria of healthy nutrition in the preschool period and the forming of eating habits in early childhood – these manifest themselves during a person's entire lifespan. Due to the fact children learn from adult behavior patterns, preschool teachers as the nursery school representatives should set a good example. Their personalities and the ability of responsibly following the country-wide curriculum should enable children to form healthy eating habits while honouring the principle of choice and diversity, the principle of equal opportunities and recognizing diversity among children, as well as the principle of multiculturalism. This makes them active participants in forming healthy eating habits from earliest childhood, as well as making children familiar with them.
The research also attempts to ascertain the preschool teacher's relationship with aforementioned principles and to investigate her or his influences over preschoolers' eating habits. All the while keeping in mind the teacher's duty of stimulating children toward healthy eating habits with her or his own knowledge, experiences and above all personal example, thus creating an environment leading to healthy eating habits.
The thesis establishes that a large portion of children's time spent interacting with adults in nursery school, as well as repetitive activities in the shadow curriculum, contribute to nutrition. This is why the teacher's role, manifesting through her or his knowledge, values, habits and a subjective view of healthy eating, is so important.
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