Explain in your own words what the concept of Brain, Body, and Belly means to you, and how you interpret the interconnectedness of these three aspects in children’s lives.
The three B’s (Brain, Body, and Belly) is an approach that can help you understand and nurture a child’s development. The brain, body, and belly work together to create a whole healthy child that in return will be able to concentrate. “Health is foundational for kids to live, learn, and thrive” (Krauss & Herrera, 2023, pg. 33). Each of the three B’s needs to be healthy for each to work together. Therefore, the brain and body interconnect through physical activity and nutrition to give the brain fuel to improve or impact cognitive function, concentration, and memory. The body and belly interconnect when provided with the right amount of nutrition to help the body through exercise or relaxation. For example, not enough water or liquids will make the body dehydrated. The brain and belly interconnect when provided with the right amount of nutrition and when the belly is fed, the brain will function, and it can improve a child’s concentration.
brain breaks help students refocus (short and structured; physical activities, or deep- breathing techniques); a calm corner where students can relax and destress.
Discuss the role nutrition and dietary habits play in children’s brain development and cognitive functioning. How can caregivers and educators promote healthier eating habits among children?
The video (2024) associated with this discussion mentions when the belly is full, the brain functions better which means that when a child is receiving the right amount of nutrients, they can concentrate and thrive during lessons throughout the day. This reminds me that nutrition is a key element in providing children the ability to focus on a task, improve cognitive ability, more energy, and overall better development.
This topic reminds me of my son’s school and his nutrition intake. My son started PreK last week. We opted to pack his lunch and must provide a morning snack for him M-F while the school provides an afternoon snack. I have always provided a fruit and veggie at every meal since they were able to eat solids. Therefore, his lunch consists of carrots, cucumber, or broccoli with a little ranch dip. Since he loves all fruits, we alternate so he doesn’t get bored. His protein comes from turkey, ham, sausage, etc. and each served with cheese. I started to notice that his afternoon snack, provided by the school, is healthy. It ranges from
yogurt, veggies, veggie straws, popcorn, chips and salsa, goldfish, etc. It’s never been candy or something overly sweet or salty. I didn’t pick up on this aspect until I started reading chapter 3, so I find the connection pretty fascinating.
Provide at least one potential barrier to implementing the BBB standard in caregiving and education.
Implementing the BBB standard in an education setting might have a barrier due to funding issues. How much does a school have set aside to implement the BBB standard? If in a low-income neighborhood or city, how can schools get the right nutrition for their children?
Share how these obstacles can be overcome.
Reaching out to the community or applying for grants is a start in overcoming funding issues. Restaurants might be able to sponsor healthy foods for their city’s schools, drives that can be set up to help schools raise money, and parents can get involved.
References
Krauss, S.M., & Herrera, M.S. (2023). Whole child, whole life: 10 ways to help kids live, learn, and thrive. Corwin Press.
The University of Arizona Global Campus. (2024). The three Bs: A holistic approach. [Video]. Kaltura. https://uagc.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/ECE624+%7C+Week+02+%7C+The+Three+B s+A+A+Holistic+Approach+/1_ii7wmpgb
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