Nourishing Little Minds® -ECEC

Nourishing Little Minds^® in the Early Childhood setting

Professional development for ACT early childhood educators

Nourishing Little Minds^® combines early childhood literacy with experiential play-based learning to enrich children’s awareness, interest, and enjoyment of healthy food.

Are you an early childhood educator working with children aged 0-5years?

The Nourishing Little Minds^® (NLM) program has been developed specifically for educators in early childhood education services or family daycare settings and has been shown to improve children’s attitudes towards healthy foods and increase their willingness to try new foods.

Nourishing Little Minds is available in two different formats.

Nourishing Little Minds^® Educator Training

Nourishing Little Minds^® training is designed for centres or educators who have not previously completed the NLM course. This might include newly opened centres, individuals who missed out on previous training sessions, or centres with a large intake of new staff. By completing the Nourishing Little Minds^® training, you will:

• Receive a two-hour professional development session, delivered at your centre by dietitians who are experts in childhood nutrition;
• Gain digital access to our NLM^® Educator Manual featuring purpose-designed activities, songs, recipes, parent resources and a detailed guide linking each aspect to the EYLF outcomes to assist in programming;
• Receive a certificate of completion for every educator present, as well as certification for your centre to display
• Make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of the children in your care.

Nourishing Little Minds^® refresher workshop

Nourishing Little Minds^® training is designed for centres and educators who have previously completed the Nourishing Little Minds^® training, and are keen to refresh their knowledge. By participating in the Nourishing Little Minds^® refresher workshop, you will:

• Receive a one-hour review workshop, delivered delivered at your centre by dietitians who are experts in childhood nutrition;
• Gain digital access to our NLM^® Educator Manual featuring purpose-designed activities, songs, recipes, parent resources and a detailed guide linking each aspect to the EYLF outcomes to assist in programming;
• Receive a certificate of completion for every educator present, as well as certification for your centre to display
• Make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of the children in your care.

What is Nourishing Little Minds^® all about?

The Nourishing Little Minds^® (NLM) program recognises the important role that early childhood educators play in helping children to develop healthy eating habits. Through the relationships that you form, you can encourage children to engage in play-based learning experiences with healthy foods. This can help to build familiarity, confidence, and food literacy in young children.

Nourishing Little Minds^® (NLM) in Early Childhood supports early childhood educators to build a positive eating culture and to promote healthy eating behaviours in children. Aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Standards (NQS), our program empowers children to become confident food explorers, while building healthy habits for life!

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are ideally placed to increase children’s awareness, interest, and enjoyment of healthy food by helping improve children’s familiarity with such food through play and learning experiences.

This program provides insights on how food-based experiences can be a useful strategy in influencing children’s eating behaviour.

If you would like to arrange a NLM^® staff PD at your service, please contact us.

The funded NLM^® program in early childhood settings has now been completed and we look forward to sharing outcomes soon.