幼稚園における園児の食べ物の名前認知度と教諭の保育の中での食育との関連

抄録

Using the cognitive test we recently developed, the familiarity with vegetables was examined among children in three different kindergartens. It was found that kindergarteners recognize names of whole shape vegetables easier than those of cut vegetables. The average score of the recognition in 5-year-old children was significantly higher than that in 4-year-old. Among the three kindergartens, the average recognition score of one kindergarten was significantly higher than those of the others. We made a survey on the food and nutrition education for the teachers in the three kindergartens. It was found that the teachers in the kindergarten with the highest score more often talked about food, which may lead the children to get interested in health and foods. Furthermore, teachers help children grow vegetables in the kindergarten and cook them in a class. The results suggested that the teacher’s attitude toward food and nutrition education accounts for the difference in children’s ability to recognize food names.