Innovative board game helps improve nutrition, health in young children

An innovative board game for Early Years professionals and the families of young children has been developed by Focus Games Ltd and Foodtalk CIC (Paediatric Dietitians).

The FoodTalk Game has been created to help people working in Early Years develop a better understanding of nutrition and health in children aged 1-5. This includes nursery workers, health visitors, child minders, and family support workers.

The FoodTalk Game provides an engaging group learning experience for people working in Early Years. It gives them the opportunity to learn together while having fun. The game promotes discussion and teamwork, as players explore nutrition and health topics relevant to young children, such as food groups, selective eating and nutritional issues like anaemia. The game is evidence-based, developed with leading dietitians, and in line with the Eat Better, Start Better guidelines and the OFSTED common assessment framework for nutrition and health.

By improving education for people working in Early Years, they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to help children, and parents, develop healthy habits from an early age. Developing a positive relationship with food from their early years is likely to help children lead a healthy lifestyle later in life. The FoodTalk Game helps make this a reality.

In addition to educating Early Years professionals, the game can also be used with families and carers of young children, in early interventions around nutrition and physical activity. Healthcare professionals can invite families to play the game, learn about their child’s nutritional needs and implement healthy routines and behaviour at home.

The FoodTalk Game supports continuing professional development for Early Years in a stimulating and effective way. While some questions are quick and straightforward, many encourage reflective discussion and debate, enabling players to develop valuable insights into how food affects physical, mental and emotional well-being.