CHAPTER 1: CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING: WHAT
IT IS AND HOW TO ACHIEVE IT
Answers to Review Questions
ANSWERS TO CHAPTER REVIEW
A. By Yourself
2. Heredity (genetics) contributes to health by determining the limits of an individual’s
potential for growth, development, and overall state of health, including predispositions
3. Singing, talking, and reading stimulate an infant’s brain development by promoting new
4. Young children are at high risk for unintentional injuries for several reasons, including:
5. Preventive practices that promote children’s oral health include: consuming a nutritious
6. Children living in families that are experiencing poverty may develop low self-esteem as
a result of increased stress, challenging environments, fear, abuse/neglect, and/or
exposure to domestic violence in their homes. They typically have fewer opportunities
7. Adults can be instrumental in fostering children’s resilient behaviors by: providing
stable and nurturing environments; being emotionally responsive and caring;
B. As a Group
1. An individual’s lifestyle choices can have either a positive/negative effect on health. Factors
that may have a negative effect include exposure to chemicals and pollution, abuse, illness,
obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, stress, unhealthy diet, poor personal hygiene, lack of sun
2. Early childhood teachers can use their knowledge of child development to promote children’s
well-being in several areas:
a. protection—including carefully planned environments, daily inspection of equipment and
3. A healthy diet is based on wise food choices and consumption. The availability of foodstuff
4. Family involvement is essential for establishing consistency (between school/home), keeping
families informed about what children are learning, reinforcing families’ efforts, enhancing
5. Engaging children in vigorous, active play each day promotes their growth and development,
mental health, and weight management. Research has also demonstrated a reduction in stress
and behavior problems when children are given opportunities to release excess energy
6. Self-concept is the self-image a person forms based upon feedback – the ways in which you
are treated by others, how others respond to you, and what others may or may not say about
you. The classroom environment and the ways in which teachers interact with children also
7. A teachers’ state of mental health can have a definite effect on the classroom tone
(environment) and nature of all interactions with children, families, and colleagues. In
ANSWERS TO CASE STUDY
1. On a short-term basis, Jose’s health is challenged by a sedentary lifestyle, boredom, stress,
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. In what ways does the concept of preventive health care differ from earlier medical
philosophies and practices?
2. What factors contribute to and affect a child’s health status?
3. Discuss the importance of safety in early childhood. In what ways do the characteristics of
the preschool-aged child contribute to a higher rate of injuries? Why should safety education
be incorporated into the curriculum?
4. Why is it important to include nutrition education in children’s early learning experiences?
5. Summarize the changes in growth that children experience during infancy; preschool years;
ADDITIONAL APPLICATION ACTIVITIES
The following exercises are designed for instructors to assign as individual or group projects.
1. Check with your health department and several practicing physicians or pediatricians and ask
them to identify 2 or 3 major health problems that children in your community are currently
2. Respond to the following question: “Is social media contributing to an increase in aggressive
and abusive behavior among children?” Contribute to a class discussion or post your comments
3. Watch 1 hour of children’s television programs. Comment on the quality of health–related
4. Observe at least 4 children while they are eating lunch or dinner. What foods did each child
eat? What foods were refused? Based on your observations, do you think the children are
developing healthy eating habits? If adults are present, do their food preferences appear to
influence what children are willing to eat? Explain.
5. Complete one of the following online quizzes to determine your level of stress and/or anxiety:
https://www.psychologistworld.com/stress/stress-test (daily stress);
https://www.psychologistworld.com/stress/anger-test (anger reaction and management);