Ashton House Nursery in Preston was one of many around the country which helped to launch the NDNA 'Healthy Body, Happy Me' project last month. A fabulous fish cooking session led by nutritionist Ady Delaney really delivered the wow factor and we are now building on this with related activities.
The fish project is part of a wider project which was piloted for the Busy Bees chain by Salford University Day Nursery. This involved children and practitioners creating an allotment and growing their own fruit and vegetables. The children were particularly interested in vegetables such as onions, garlic and leeks.
Moving on to fish allowed the project to develop and build on its many themes including growth, diversity, the environment and healthy eating.
We discovered that fish hold a fascination for young children.
Fishing for fun
Ady came into the nursery and trained the managers and staff in ways to prepare fish and salads and also make pasta using a pasta making machine.
We wanted to emphasise to the children that healthy meals need preparation and thought.
We all know that children can be apprehensive about trying new foods and are often very cautious when it comes to fish. We wanted the project to increase their understanding of the nutritional benefits and give them a spirit of adventure about trying new things. We wanted to show them that fish are not only good for you and tasty - but fish are fun as well.
Ady brought in a wonderful variety of large fish, which the children were very excited by. These included a 281b salmon and a live lobster. Children handled the fish themselves and asked questions about them. They saw how the fish were filleted and prepared, and were able to taste the results.
As part of our follow-up activities the children looked at different fish and seafood, including mussels and crabs. We outlined the nutritional benefits and talked about where they live and what they feed on.
We took them to look at fish on a slab in the supermarket and they were full of curiosity about where they came from and what varieties they were.
Staff also took children to a pet shop where they could view tropical fish and find out more about them.
A fry-up
Children were involved in cooking themselves. They made sushi, fish kebabs with peppers, tomatoes and prawns, and put them on the plates. They set the table and then sat down to eat what they had cooked.
This part of the project helped them to develop the practical skills that are required to prepare a meal and extended their knowledge about different types of ingredients. We talked about the many different ways there were to cook food and the fact that some foods could be eaten raw. Cooking helped to give them a sense of independence and the confidence to attempt things they normally viewed as grown-up activities.
Fish were an effective way to introduce a global dimension into the project. The children were interested to learn and talk about the types of dishes that were eaten in other parts of the world.
We also made displays around the nursery with the children creating models of crabs, lobsters and fish. For these we used different materials such as clay, plaster of paris, tissue paper and card. We have also told stories and found books about fish.
The fish generated some very interesting discussions, both at home and in the nursery.
Parent feedback has been great. Many reported that the children went home talking about what they had learnt. They were very proud of the fact that they knew the names of different fish and were able to talk about where they came from and what they ate.
This project has spanned all ages and abilities. Babies and toddlers are involved, up to and including the older children who attend the holiday and after-school clubs.
We are now setting up a mini allotment, so that the children can extend their knowledge of healthy food.
We have introduced more fish dishes on to our menus and we find that those children who might not have been prepared to eat something like fish pie are now willing to do so.
We are keen that our mini allotment is a sustainable activity for the future. As children grow and pass through the nursery we want them all to experience caring for plants and eating the food they have grown.
Karen Lenoir spoke to Karen Faux. The NDNA 'Healthy Body, Happy Me'
campaign is supported by Nursery World. More information can be found at www.ndna.org.uk
Ady Delaney is on the advisory panel for the campaign and owner of Eatright UK, a company providing nutritional advice and training
KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES
* To investigate plants and animals by using all their senses as appropriate
* To understand where food comes from
* To find out about, and identify, features of living things, objects and events
* To look closely at similarities, differences, patterns of change
* To ask questions about what things are called, where they live and how they survive
* Enjoy listening to songs, stories and poems
* Use language to reflect on experiences and talk to sequence events
* To continue to be interested, excited and motivated to learn
