Early Childhood

Information for professionals who work with children

A child's health is more than the absence of disease or injury.

Your goal as a professional who cares for children should be more than just keeping children safe.

Consider these facts:

  • The percentage of children who are overweight or obese is on the rise in Minnesota, as in the nation as a whole.
  • Healthy eating and physical activity habits develop at a young age and tend to carry over into adulthood, contributing to healthier lives.
  • Parents and caregivers play an important role in creating environments that support healthy eating and physical activity for children.


"We all know that parents are their children’s first and best teachers. However, because of the number of children who are in child care and the amount of time they spend there, caregivers have an amazing amount of influence on the children in your care and the people they are becoming," Joyce O'Meara, Early Childhood Specialist, MDH

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