| Popis: |
According to a Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the child poverty rate in Japan was 13.9％ in 2016. A similar survey conducted in Okinawa Prefecture showed the child poverty rate was 29.9％ in 2015. Child poverty has numerous adverse effects on child development. The Third Basic Plan for the Promotion of Shokuiku （Food and Nutrition Education） established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries aims to satisfy the dietary and nutritional needs of children and promote food and nutrition education. It will provide children from single-parent homes with learning support and meals at sites such as afterschool centers. While own place for children programs offer meal-, life-, and learning-support services, few studies have examined their effectiveness. By examining food-focused initiatives at Children House Z, this study examined the introduction of food and nutrition education at own place for children. “Observation log sheets” were used at Children House Z to clarify the changes in children over a one-year period. Positive changes were observed in six areas: 1） self-sufficiency; 2） trying different things; 3） establishing daily routines; 4） learning about food, cooking and the life-giving value of meals; 5） expressing preferences and desires related to food; and 6） learning to enjoy meals with others. These findings showed that the food-focused initiatives at own place for children centers were effective for resolving the issues of school children. Future challenges will be to review study subjects, research methods, and study periods and to build on previous achievements. |
