Preschool Children Research Articles

Neurodevelopmental problems in pre-school children in rural Western Cape, South Africa: is community screening feasible?

BackgroundThere is no standard public health screening for neurodevelopmental disorders in pre-school children in South Africa. There are pragmatic challenges in implementing such a programme in under-resourced regions. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of introducing a two-stage screening model for neurodevelopmental disorders among pre-school children in the rural Western Cape, South Africa.MethodsWe adopted a mixed methods approach to evaluate the feasibility of using a brief screening questionnaire, the ESSENCE-Q, translated into local languages (Afrikaans and isiXhosa), through verbal administration to mothers of pre-school children by trained research assistants without professional health qualifications within a cross-sectional ESSENCE-Q validation study. A focus group interview with research assistants who conducted the screening was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Feedback from participating mothers was obtained through a simple verbally administered questionnaire, rating 7 items on a Likert scale. Finally, the research team’s field notes were reviewed to critically assess feasibility.ResultsThe focus group interview identified areas of logistical challenge but highlighted positive reception among mothers. Since mothers generally had low levels of education and literacy, time was required to clarify certain child development concepts during screening. The in-person mode of engagement and flexibility of processes, including the use of a visual consent booklet, supported feasibility. Considerable resource limitations and trauma were encountered. Training key community members to administer the ESSENCE-Q for future studies or screening projects was considered feasible, provided neurodevelopmental training and trauma support is provided. Feedback from mothers was consistently positive, although unavoidable delays between assessment and feedback may have impacted this data. Identified challenges can be adequately addressed through practical adaptations.DiscussionThorough preparation prior to commencing screening is considered essential for feasibility, including community-based stakeholder consultation, broad consultation around translated screening questionnaires, and preparation for diagnostic assessment. Ongoing support to mother–child recipients as well as those administering the screening, is required. The experience of participating mother–child pairs must be placed at the centre of community-based screening processes. Long term sustainability requires adequate training, supervision and psychological support for those administering such processes.

Visual profiling and vision screening of preschool children in Greenland

ABSTRACT A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in six towns in Greenland to establish normative data on refraction and visual acuity in preschool children and to develop a practical vision screening method suited to Greenlandic healthcare needs. We recruited 274 children born in 2017 through kindergartens in six towns. The only exclusion criterion was known eye disease under ophthalmological care. Vision screening was performed by an optometrist, assessing distance visual acuity with Kay Pictures, binocular near visual acuity with Lea Symbols, stereoacuity with the Lang II Test, and non-cycloplegic refraction using the Plusoptix A12R. An ophthalmologist conducted follow-up examinations, including cycloplegic refraction, within one week. Of 532 eligible children, 274 participated (144 boys, 133 girls; mean age 4.7 years). The mean visual acuity for the worse- and best-seeing eye was 0.05 (±0.16 SD) and 0.01 (±0.12 SD) logMAR, respectively. Cycloplegic myopia (≤-0.5 dioptres) was found in 5%, while 18% had hyperopia >+2.0 dioptres. Most preschool children in Greenland have good visual acuity and mild hyperopia. Vision screening combining the Plusoptix autorefractor and distance visual acuity demonstrated the highest sensitivity (89%) for identifying children needing further evaluation. Implementing this vision screening method in kindergartens is recommended to improve early detection and treatment outcomes.

Difference of sleep time and screen time in preschool children in rural and urban settings in natural living conditions in Japan.

The amount of sleep for children has been decreasing in the past decades. Artificial light at night in home and community settings is linked with increased sleep disturbances. Recently, smartphone and tablet use has increased among children and in childcare settings. We investigated the neighborhood environment (urban vs. rural) affects sleep time, screen time usage, and melatonin and cortisol concentration in real living conditions of preschool children in Japan. In this study, 26 children aged 3-6 years from urban and rural areas in Japan were participated. We collected saliva samples for melatonin and cortisol for three times. A questionnaire was given to the parents of the children to assess smartphone and television usage, and sleep duration for two weeks. We found that television watching time was significantly longer in urban area than in rural area (181 ± 82min/day in urban vs. 112 ± 80min/day in rural). However, melatonin and cortisol concentrations and sleep time were not significantly different between the rural and the urban areas. These results show that urban preschool children may engage in more screen time behavior than their rural counterparts. Finally, these findings may suggest the need for education and quality improvement initiatives to promote a healthy balance between sleep and sedentary screen time in both communities.

Using Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory to explore ethnic cultural representation in Taiwanese preschool children’s play

IntroductionThis research aims to understand how preschool children in Taiwan, where ethnic integration is common, incorporate their unique ethnic and cultural backgrounds into their play activities to express and integrate their cultural identities. Using Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory as a theoretical lens, the study examines and analyzes these attributes.MethodsThis study employed purposive sampling to select a public preschool in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, and adopted a qualitative research approach. The play behavior of 27 Taiwanese children was observed over a two-month period, during which nine interviews were conducted with preschool teachers. Teachers’ reflections on instruction and children’s portfolios were also collected to provide supplementary insights into elements that could not be fully clarified through observation and interviews.ResultsThe analysis was grounded in Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, and the data were coded to systematically organize and condense the information. The findings revealed the following: (i) Children express their cultural traits through folk festival ceremonies during play activities; (ii) Engaging in play activities related to folk festival ceremonies is essential for these children, as it deepens their understanding of the cultural contexts within their respective ethnic communities. Moreover, the children demonstrate the ability to integrate their knowledge and skills related to the cultural characteristics of their ethnic groups.DiscussionThe play activities of Taiwanese preschool children exhibit a dynamic nature and undergo modifications over time across different ethnic, cultural, and contextual settings, as exemplified by the variety of materials, shapes, flavors, and terms associated with rice dumplings reported by children. Thus, recognizing and addressing cultural diversity within early childhood education settings is essential for promoting meaningful engagement and facilitating children’s successful adaptation to socially diverse environments.

The Impact of Family Size on Social Communication Skills in Monolingual and Bilingual Preschool Children.

Family size is linked tightly with children's language development. Yet, we have a limited understanding of the associations between family size, specifically the number of adults and siblings, and children's social communication skills, particularly in children from diverse linguistic environments. The present study examined the effects of family size on social communication abilities in 4- to 5-year-old monolingual and bilingual children. Parents of 86 English-speaking monolingual children and English-Spanish-speaking bilingual children aged 4-5 years completed the Children's Communication Checklist-Second Edition (CCC-2) to measure the children's social communication skills. Individual subscales covering the pragmatic language aspects (or, for brevity, "pragmatic subscale(s)") in the CCC-2 were considered as outcome variables. Parents also completed interviews where information was obtained regarding the number of family members, including adults and siblings, in the household. Results revealed that the number of adults did not predict children's social communication skills. However, the total number of family members and the number of siblings significantly predicted aspects of children's social communication abilities. Results showed that a smaller family size and fewer number of siblings may be more beneficial to monolingual children, whereas a larger family size and a greater number of siblings may be more favorable to bilingual children. Findings from this study provide early insights into how family-related structures can impact the development of social communication skills in children from varied linguistic backgrounds. That is, family composition differentially affects monolingual and bilingual children's social communication, and they do so for different aspects of pragmatics.

The hyperopia reserve in 3- to 6- years-old preschool children in North China: the Beijing hyperopia reserve research

Clinical relevanceIn recent years, the concept of hyperopia reserve, defined as a physiological hyperopic refractive status preceding emmetropia and myopia, has gained increasing attention. and raised awareness about myopia. This concept has become of interest to both parents and practitioners.BackgroundTo report the distribution of refractive errors and ocular biometry in a large scale of preschool children in Beijing, in North China. The distribution of hyperopia reserve and its associated factors were also further investigated.MethodsThis study presents baseline data from Beijing Hyperopia Reserve Research (BHRR), which enrolled 2109 preschool children from 22 randomly selected kindergartens. Cycloplegic refraction was performed for all children. Hyperopia reserve was defined as a spherical equivalent refractive error (SER) greater than zero. Parents completed a questionnaire about the severity of refractive status (normal; mild myopia <-3D; moderate myopia ≥-3D and ≤-6D; high myopia >-6D) and their children’s indoor and outdoor activity times.ResultsThe mean SER was + 1.11 ± 0.97D, and the mean axial length was 22.25 + 0.73 mm in all preschool children. The overall prevalence of myopia was 3.7%, with age-specific rates of 2.8%, 3.8%, 3.8%, and 5.2%, respectively. A total of 1932 children (91.6%) had hyperopia reserve, yet only 24.1% of children had age-adjusted normal hyperopia reserve. Regression analysis showed that maintaining hyperopia reserve was associated with sex (boy as reference, OR = 1.7, P = 0.005), mild myopic group parents (Father: OR = 1.7, P = 0.003; Mother: OR = 2.2, P < 0.001), increased outdoor activity time (OR = 1.3, P = 0.031) and reduced study time (OR = 0.8, P = 0.025).ConclusionsThe present study provided a comprehensive database on the refractive status and ocular biometry of preschool children aged 3–6 years in Beijing, North China. Although most children maintained hyperopia reserve, the majority had age-adjusted hyperopia reserve deficiencies. Early intervention, particularly for children with parents exhibiting severe myopia may be warranted.

Deciphering Amblyopia: Epidemiological Insights From a Pediatric Study.

Background This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with amblyopia among preschool and school-going children aged 3-12 years. Methodology A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted on 1,683 preschool and school-going children in western India. They were divided into three groups (group A: 3-5 years, group B: 6-9 years, and group C: 10-12 years). All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmological evaluations to identify ocular causes of amblyopia such as refractive errors, strabismus, and stimulus deprivation. Non-ocular risk factors were assessed through detailed parental questionnaires addressing prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal histories. Results Of the children screened, 5.88% (n = 99) were diagnosed with refractive errors, and 1.66% (n = 28) were diagnosed with amblyopia. Among amblyopic children, refractive amblyopia was the most prevalent at 71.43% (n = 20, p < 0.0001), followed by strabismic amblyopia (21.43%, n = 6) and stimulus deprivation amblyopia (7.14%, n = 2). Astigmatism was found to be most amblyogenic in cases of both unilateral and bilateral amblyopia, though hypermetropic amblyopic children formed the majority of the refractive amblyopia population. The majority of children had moderately severe amblyopia across all age groups. Significant non-ocular risk factors included pre-obese maternal body mass index at conception (p < 0.001) and low birth weight (p < 0.001). Although preterm birth also emerged as a major risk factor, the results were not significant (p = 0.063). Conclusions Amblyopia in children can be attributed to both modifiable ocular and non-ocular risk factors. It is one of the most common reversible causes of childhood blindness. Early identification and intervention are essential for optimal visual outcomes, highlighting the importance of initiating amblyopia screening programs starting at preschool ages.

"Sit down and eat": Daily associations between preschoolers' physical activity at dinner and parents' feeding coparenting and control.

Although it is developmentally appropriate for preschoolers to be highly active, this physical activity level can be difficult for parents to manage at mealtime when children are asked to sit and focus on eating. We examined how children's physical activity levels across the week related to parents' feeding coparenting efforts and how parent feeding pressure and prompts to change the child's activity mediated these associations. From a sample of 100 families with a preschool-age child (3-5 years, 49% female, 59% White, 12% Black, 10% Hispanic, 26% low-income), home dinners with mothers and fathers present were recorded in 65 families for seven consecutive days (455 total meals observed). Coders rated meals for children's activity level and parents' prompts for activity change, pressuring feeding behaviors, and feeding coparenting support, undermining, and balance. Multilevel structural equation models tested direct and indirect associations at within-person and between-person levels. On days children were more active than usual, parents engaged in more supportive feeding coparenting and used more prompts for children's activity change. Fathers' increased prompts for activity change explained associations between child activity level and supportive feeding coparenting. Although fathers' feeding pressure related to more supportive and balanced feeding coparenting, it was not predicted by child activity level and, thus, did not mediate associations between child activity and feeding coparenting. At the between-person level, children who were more physically active had parents who engaged in more undermining feeding coparenting. Results are discussed in terms of the consistency of children's physical activity and fathers' feeding engagement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Remimazolam for successful sedation in children with left-to-right shunt congenital heart disease: An up-and-down sequential allocation trial.

The findings of this study offer insights into the utilisation of remimazolam for sedation in paediatric patients with left-to-right shunt congenital heart disease (CHD). To study the median effective dose (ED50) and 95 percentile of the effective dose (ED95) of remimazolam for successful sedation in children with CHD. A nonrandomised, nonblinded study based on the Dixon sequential method. Tertiary hospitals in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, study dates: 20 October 2023 to 18 May 2024. A total of 78 patients, comprising 32 males and 45 females, successfully completed the study. They were selected based on the following criteria: children aged 1 to 6 years with left-to-right shunt CHD; ASA physical status II-III. The key exclusion criteria were: history of allergy to sedative drugs; administration of sedative medications other than the study drug before surgery; severe pre-operative liver or kidney dysfunction; pre-operative bradycardia; and severe pre-operative respiratory diseases. The sedation status of the patients was observed for 5 min after intravenous administration of different doses of remimazolam. The ED50 and ED95 of remimazolam for successful sedation in children with CHD. The ED50 (95% CI) of remimazolam for successful sedation in infants, toddlers and preschool children with CHD were 0.209 (0.184 to 0.234) mg kg-1, 0.259 (0.234 to 0.284) mg kg-1 and 0.266 (0.207 to 0.325) mg kg-1, respectively. ED95 (95% CI) were 0.356 (0.282 to 0.672) mg kg-1, 0.404 (0.330 to 0.741) mg kg-1 and 0.408 (0.334 to 0.752) mg kg-1, respectively. No serious adverse reactions were observed with intravenous remimazolam. This study explored the ED50 and ED95 of remimazolam for pre-operative sedation in children with left-to-right shunt CHD. It provides guidance for pre-operative sedation medication in children with left-to-right shunt CHD. https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier: ChiCTR2300076458.

Dietary Factors and BMI Among Preschool-Aged Head Start Children and Home Caregivers in Remote Alaska Native Communities.

American Indian and Alaska Native children experience disparities in obesity. Home caregiver diet and weight status may be important for obesity prevention efforts. The goals of this study were (1) to examine the concordance of diet and body mass index (BMI) between Yup'ik caregivers and preschoolers in remote Alaska and (2) to examine the association of dietary factors with BMI for caregivers. Study data came from "Got Neqpiaq?", a culturally centered multilevel intervention focused on Yup'ik preschool-aged children (n = 155) and caregivers (n = 144) in 12 communities in Southwest Alaska. Dietary factors of interest were measured using biomarkers: traditional food intake (nitrogen stable isotope ratio), processed food intake (carbon stable isotope ratio), and vegetable and fruit intake (skin carotenoid concentration). Associations among variables were evaluated using confounder-adjusted linear regression with BMI modeled as a continuous outcome. Dietary biomarkers were highly concordant between caregivers and children, but caregiver and child BMI were not. Among caregivers, traditional food intake was positively associated with BMI (beta = 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.45, 2.68; p = .006), vegetable and fruit intake was negatively associated with BMI (beta = - 0.02; 95% CI = - 0.04, - 0.004; p = .02), and processed food intake was not associated with BMI (beta = 0.74; 95% CI = - 1.07, 2.55; p = .42). There was high concordance between caregiver and child diet which suggests that dietary-related obesity prevention efforts in Yup'ik communities could focus on family-level interventions. Future work must move beyond a singular focus on obesity and consider holistic health, which aligns with an Alaska Native worldview.

Exploring the Challenges of Implementing Music in Enhancing Preschool Children's English Language Acquisition

Exploring the Challenges of Implementing Music in Enhancing Preschool Children's English Language Acquisition

Micro-URS Experience in the Treatment of Distal Ureteral Stones in Preschool-Aged Children.

Objective: The incidence of urolithiasis in the paediatric population is rising, leading to a progressive shift towards minimally invasive management strategies. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of using micro-ureteroscopy (micro-URS) to treat distal ureteral stones in preschool-aged paediatric patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 57 children (aged 6-72 months), all of whom had undergone micro-URS treatment for distal ureteral stones between September 2022 and April 2024. Patient demographics, along with perioperative and postoperative outcomes, were assessed. Stone fragmentation was achieved using a 4.85 Fr micro-ureteroscope and a 200 μm Ho:YAG laser fibre. Postoperative complications were graded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification system, and stone-free status was confirmed for each patient at their one-month follow-up appointment. Results: The mean patient age was 44.2 months, and the median stone size was 9.4 mm (range: 6-24 mm). Stone-free status was confirmed in all patients at their one-month follow-up appointment. In 22.8% of cases, reintervention was required to address minor complications, including haematuria (n = 6), urinary tract infections (n = 4), and stone migration (n = 3). No major intraoperative complications were observed. A total of 41 patients (71.9%) required a double-J stent to treat intraoperative oedema or stone impaction. The mean operative time was 28.6 min, and the mean hospitalisation duration was 19.7 h. Conclusions: Micro-URS achieved a 100% stone-free rate with minimal complications, establishing it as a safe and highly effective option for treating distal ureteral stones in preschool-aged children. These findings show that micro-URS offers advantages over Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL) in paediatric urolithiasis management, supporting it as a first-line treatment modality. Further prospective, randomised studies are needed to validate these results.

Malnutrition among Preschool Children in Karnataka State: A Geographical Analysis

Malnutrition refers to a condition which results when the diet does not contain the right amount of nutrients. Under nutrition and over nutrition are the types of malnutrition. Over nutrition arises from excessive intake of nutrients while under nutrition is the result of insufficient intake of energy and nutrients. It is one of the most important global health issues as there is a very high prevalence of malnutrition in developing countries. Every year, millions of children are either disabled or killed by under nutrition. Malnutrition also obstructs millions more children from reaching their full physical and intellectual growth. Main reasons for malnutrition are poverty, socio-economic status of the parents. As per UNICEF report (2006) “The causes of childhood malnutrition are the insufficient diet, frequent infections, poor breastfeeding practices, delayed introduction of complementary foods and inadequate protein in the diet”. Apart from its adverse effects, malnutrition can be treated with identification and proper management. Though there are many specific programmes like Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) to combat malnutrition, about two third of the under five children in India are malnourished, among them 5 to 8% are severely malnourished. To reduce the prevalence of malnutrition, its magnitude, causes and effects have to be identified promptly. So that the proper measures to control malnutrition can be implemented. Thus, the present paper makes an attempt to highlight the problem of malnutrition in Karnataka state for which the data sources are largely based on secondary data collected from National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-2021), Census of India and online sources etc. Simple methods like charts, graphs and maps have been employed to demonstrate the different degrees of malnutrition in the state.

Parents’ perceived barriers and enablers to providing optimal infant oral care

BackgroundEarly childhood caries (tooth decay) can adversely affect child growth, development and well-being and is a leading cause of preventable hospitalisation for pre-school aged children. This necessitates the introduction of preventive measures in infancy, including twice daily toothbrushing and timely dental visits. This study explored the barriers and enablers parents face in providing optimal oral care for their young children.MethodsWe interviewed Australian parents with 0-36-month-old children about two key behaviours related to their child’s oral health: (1) the timing of first dental visit and (2) twice daily toothbrushing. Parents were recruited via social media advertising and all interviews were conducted online via Zoom. Interviews were based on a semi-structured interview guide mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Data was coded to the TDF, summarised, and categorised as a barrier or enabler before being grouped into themes and sub-themes using framework analysis.ResultsFifteen interviews were completed between May 2022– May 2023. Thirteen of the 14 TDF domains were represented in the data. The three most dominant TDF domains across the dataset were social influences, environmental context and resources, and knowledge. Four themes were developed from the data: (1) Conflict, (2) Family and social norms, (3) Wanting a positive oral health experience, and (4) Uncertainty. These themes represent both barriers and enablers to optimal infant and young children’s oral care. Parents face complex decision-making challenges regarding their young children’s oral health care, particularly managing actual and perceived conflicts with their child. Knowledge and social and family norms influence their approach to managing these barriers.ConclusionsThe key influences enabling or preventing optimal infant oral care identified in this study lay the foundation for interventions to target these behaviours. To encourage a timely first dental visit, parents need consistent messaging from dental and other health professionals. To encourage twice daily toothbrushing, parents need more support in managing their child’s behaviour and competing priorities.

Place of Residence Affects Preschool Children's Speech Development: A Study on Children Living in Apartments and Neighborhoods

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the place of residence on the speech development of preschool children living in an apartment or neighbourhood. In the study, children's speech skills were evaluated using the Expert Assessment Scale of Speech Skills (EASSS) developed by Işık Aydın and Erdem (2022). In this context, 100 students (53 living in an apartment and 47 living in a neighbourhood) were analysed by expert therapists according to the EASSS results. According to these findings, although the EASSS total score frequencies of the participants differed, it was observed that children living in apartments had a significant delay in speech development compared to those living in the neighbourhood (t=-8.488, p&lt;.001, Cohen's d=-2.44). In conclusion, social isolation is thought to be one of the main causes of speech development delay in children living in apartment buildings. Therefore, it is thought that it is important to create common playgrounds to support the language development of children living in these areas.

Exploring the Impact of Curriculum Frameworks on Language Acquisition in Early Childhood Education

This study investigates the influence of curriculum frameworks on language development in preschool-aged children in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The research encompassed 250 subjects, comprising 100 preschool educators, 100 parents, and 50 children, who were chosen via stratified random sampling. A mixed-methods approach incorporated language proficiency evaluations, structured surveys, and semi-structured interviews. T-tests and ANOVA studied quantitative data to compare language development scores among different curriculum types, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis to investigate educators' viewpoints. Research indicates that children engaged in language-rich curricula exhibited markedly superior scores in vocabulary development (M = 85.4, SD = 10.2) and phonological awareness (M = 78.6, SD = 9.5) relative to their counterparts in traditional curricula (vocabulary: M = 68.2, SD = 12.5; phonological awareness: M = 62.4, SD = 10.8), with p &lt; 0.01. Furthermore, 70% of parents indicated heightened involvement and motivation when local languages and cultural contexts were incorporated into the curriculum. The study underscores the necessity for curricula that integrate interactive and culturally pertinent learning experiences, professional development initiatives for instructors, and legislation that requires the incorporation of local languages in early childhood education. Policymakers are advised to allocate resources for culturally inclusive educational materials and teacher training initiatives to ensure a lasting effect on language acquisition and sustained academic achievement.

The Current Situation of Coherent Language Development for 5-6-Year-Old Children Through Project-Based Teaching at Kindergartens in Nghe An Province

Abstract: Project-based teaching is a modern educational approach that is particularly effective in developing coherent language for 5-6-year-old preschool children. Integrating literary works into learning not only enhances language development but also promotes creative thinking, communication, and social skills. This paper clarifies the current situation of coherent language development for 5-6-year-old children through project-based teaching at kindergartens in Nghe An province. The finding serves as a practical foundation for designing project-based lesson plans to improve the effectiveness of this approach in preschools.

Validity and reliability of healthy food knowledge and healthy food preferences scale for preschool children.

Early childhood nutrition plays a critical role in shaping lifelong health outcomes, yet preschool children in low- and middle-income countries often have poor dietary habits and limited knowledge of healthy foods. This study aimed to validate and assess the reliability of the 9-item Healthy Food Knowledge (HFK_PS) and Healthy Food Preference (HFP_PS) scales, ensuring cultural relevance for measuring food knowledge and preferences among Ethiopian preschool children aged 3-7 years. A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 319 preschoolers from five randomly selected 5 kindergarten schools. Data was collected through an interactive photo-based interview with the children. A panel of ten experts assessed content validity, while construct validity was assessed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. The EFA identified a two-factor structure for both scales, explaining 50.91% and 50.18% of the variance for HFK_PS and HFP_PS, respectively. CFA confirmed the model fit, with all indices meeting the recommended thresholds. The HFK_PS and HFP_PS scales demonstrated good internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha values of 0.80 and 0.78, respectively. Older children and those in higher grades had significantly greater food knowledge (p < 0.001), and food preferences also improved with grade level (p < 0.05). However, preferences remained stable across age groups (p = 0.928). However, no significant gender differences were found. A positive correlation (r = 0.43, p < 0.001) was found between healthy food knowledge and preferences, suggesting that increased knowledge is associated with healthier preferences. The validated scales can be instrumental in evaluating preschoolers' dietary knowledge and preferences in Ethiopia. Future studies should focus on implementing these scales in nutrition education programs to assess their effectiveness in fostering long-term healthy eating habits among young children.

Parental Knowledge of Breastfeeding and Nutrition: Influence on Oral Health and Self-Reported Early Childhood Caries in Preschool Children in Croatia.

Aim: Parents' knowledge of oral health plays a key role in shaping their children's habits and preventing early childhood caries, particularly through breastfeeding and nutrition. This study aimed to assess parents' knowledge of how dietary habits affect both oral health and early childhood caries rates. Materials and methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 595 parents of children aged 3 to 6 years old using a self-structured questionnaire. Sociodemographic data, the children's characteristics, breastfeeding practices, daily diet, the perceived effects of diet on orofacial health, and self-reported dental caries were recorded. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and regression models. Results: One-third of the children had dental caries (200/595). The prevalence of caries was significantly higher among children from rural areas (40.5%) compared to those from urban areas (31.1%) (p = 0.021) and in low-income families (72.7%) compared to middle-income (35.4%) and high-income (25.1%) families (p = 0.002). Breastfeeding duration, bottle feeding, and night feeding were not significantly associated with the occurrence of caries. Only 11.1% of parents recognized the role of extended breastfeeding on a child's demand over one year in promoting the development of tooth decay. Better knowledge was observed among parents with university degrees, in healthcare workers, and in parents with lower incomes (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Dental caries was prevalent, especially among children from rural areas and low-income families. Although there is no direct correlation between the duration of breastfeeding and dental caries, parental awareness of the preventive benefits of breastfeeding remains low. Education for parents about breastfeeding and nutrition's impact on oral health can have a substantial effect on preventing ECC. Educational efforts aimed at specific audiences are necessary to boost knowledge and advance preventive strategies. This study must recognize its limitations due to its dependence on self-reported caries data. Subsequent research must include clinical dental evaluations to achieve findings that are both dependable and factual.

Engineering habits of mind in preschool children at Scottish forest nurseries and Australian bush kinders

AbstractNature‐based learning environments for early childhood are expanding, as is research into their affordances and pedagogies. Engineering in these environments is not well studied. Previous work considered engineering experiences through the lens of ‘designerly play’, finding that natural materials, the space for larger creations and constructions, the altered group dynamics and less gendered environments, promote engineering play. Other engineering frameworks have not been applied. In this study, we have identified ways in which preschool‐aged children engage with Engineering Habits of Mind while at forest nursery and bush kinder. Ethnographic and video data from two Scottish forest nurseries and two Australian bush kinders have been collected and with our vignettes, we have shown that young children readily engage with all six Engineering Habits of Mind in a variety of different play scenarios when in natural learning environments. As well as demonstrating the benefits of forest nursery and bush kinder to young children's engineering learning, our examples can be used to guide educators looking for ways to increase engineering play in other learning contexts.