Role Modeling
Teachers as Role Models
Teachers who role model healthy behaviors in their classrooms can have an enormous impact on choices children make related to healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. Children are more likely to embrace and adopt habits if they see adults in their lives demonstrate these same healthy behaviors. Modeling healthy behaviors expands direct education to influence individuals’ behavior.
Healthy Foods
- Model healthy eating behaviors by consuming healthy foods and beverages.
- Make a point of eating healthy snacks with students.
- Show them what is in your healthy lunch.
- Drink water in front of the students to model healthy beverage choices.
- Participate in nutrition education classroom tasting activities.
- Plan and conduct taste tests of fruits and vegetables with students on a regular basis (first Friday of each month, etc.).
- Try new foods with the students.
- Share positive, out-of-the-classroom, healthy eating experiences with students.
- Discuss the benefits of healthy food choices with students during snack and meal times.
- Have a healthy party policy in your classroom.
- Don’t reward students with food.
- Eat lunch in the cafeteria with students.
- Schedule a lunch bunch in your classroom as an earned reward. Encourage students to bring healthy foods to eat that day.
Classroom teacher to classroom teacher communication is powerful in influencing health behavior change in the school setting. Working together and sharing experiences will help to strengthen the activities and may provide an increase in the number of teachers who promote healthy classroom behaviors.
Childcare Teachers as Role Models
Teachers who role model healthy behaviors in their classrooms can have an enormous impact on choices children make related to healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. Children are more likely to embrace and adopt habits if they see adults in their lives demonstrate these same healthy behaviors. Modeling healthy behaviors expands direct education to influence individuals’ behavior.
- Model healthy eating behaviors by consuming healthy foods and beverages.
- Make a point of eating healthy snacks with students.
- Participate in nutrition education classroom tasting activities.
- Plan and conduct taste tests of fruits and vegetables with students on a regular basis (first Friday of each month, etc.)
- Share positive out-of-the-classroom healthy eating experiences with students.
- Eat lunch with students.
- Schedule a lunch bunch as an earned reward. Ask parents to provide healthy foods to eat that day.
- Lead and participate in active play in the classroom throughout the preschool day.
- Discuss the benefits of healthy food choices with students during snack and meal times.
- Walk during recess and before lunch time with students.
- Create a “healthy behaviors” section on the classroom bulletin board. Enter your healthy behavior along with the students to continue to motivate each other to make healthy behavior changes.
- Encourage development of a classroom walking club; teachers, students and classroom volunteers can all track how far they walk every day.
Teacher to teacher communication is powerful in influencing health behavior change in the childcare setting. Working together and sharing experiences will help to strengthen the activities and may provide an increase in the number of teachers who promote healthy behaviors.
Out of School Teachers as Role Models
Out of school Teachers who role model healthy behaviors can have an enormous impact on choices children make related to healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. Children are more likely to embrace and adopt habits if they see adults in their lives demonstrate these same healthy behaviors. Modeling healthy behaviors expands direct education to influence individuals’ behavior.
- Model healthy eating behaviors by consuming healthy foods and beverages.
- Make a point of eating healthy snacks with students.
- Participate in nutrition education tasting activities.
- Plan and conduct taste tests of fruits and vegetables with students on a regular basis (first Friday of each month, etc.)
- Share positive out-of-the-classroom healthy eating experiences with students.
- Discuss the benefits of healthy food choices with students during snack and meal times.
- Walk with students.
- Create a “healthy behaviors” section on bulletin boards. Enter your healthy behavior along with the students to continue to motivate each other to make healthy behavior changes.
- Encourage development of an out of school walking club; teachers, students and classroom volunteers can all track how far they walk every day.
Healthy Changes for Out of School Youth
Healthier Generation HOST Framework
Teacher to teacher communication is powerful in influencing health behavior change in the out of school setting. Working together and sharing experiences will help to strengthen the activities and may provide an increase in the number of teachers who promote healthy behaviors.