Over 1 000 000 Australian children < 12 years spend on average 28 h/week in care. Early Years’ Educators (EYE) are positioned to influence many aspects of children’s wellbeing including nutrition, obesity and body image (BI) development. Evidence suggests BI concerns emerge in children as young as 3 years and maybe unintentionally transmitted through parents/caregivers, or by EYE.
This study explored the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of EYE in relation to BI development of young children (2-3y). An online survey was developed and included adapted standardised measures of body appreciation, knowledge of BI development and feeding practices. This was completed by 187 EYE nationally.
EYE understood the concept of BI, and reported positive Body Appreciation Scores. They recognised their role in fostering positive BI of the young children they taught (83%) and reported confidence in their ability to access support in dealing with BI issues (67.4%), and 60% felt they had the capacity to understand BI concerns in young children. Knowledge scores were high (78% ± 8%), however, 32% of EYE believed they should judge when a child was full, 68% felt that dieting was a healthy behaviour and 20% agreed that ‘special foods’ (discretionary foods) should be given to a child when they were upset, demonstrating problematic attitudes and behaviours related to the food environment by some EYE.
Despite the lengthy time that children spend with EYE, their role in developing BI has not previously been explored. Current knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of EYE vacillate and have the potential to greatly influence the development of BI in young children. Provision of resources and professional development to ensure quality teaching and learning experiences need to be developed to ensure EYE play a role in positive BI development.