Good nutrition helps a child's cuts and scrapes heal. Good nutrition helps a child's body fight off colds and diarrhea. Feeding children can give them a sense of closeness with another person. Food makes children feel more comfortable and secure and takes away feelings of hunger. Feeding children helps them learn about their world.
Children develop self-esteem when they learn to feed themselves.
When children eat with others, they develop language and social skills. You have chosen to care for other people's children, and feeding these children is part of your work. Feeding children foods that are nourishing and clean keeps children healthy and safe. The standards are goals-something to work toward. Even if you cannot meet every standard, keep the goals in mind.