Talking Circles: Exploring Children’s Experiences and Preferences of Food Environments in Australian Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)

Le résumé fourni par la source

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) settings provide an opportunity to support children’s dietary behaviours; however, exploration of children’s food experiences within OSHC nutrition environment remains limited. Despite the crucial role nutrition plays in children’s development and their right to be involved in decision-making, their voices are often overlooked in nutrition research. Therefore, this study explored children’s experiences and preferences of the nutrition environment through semi-structured focus group discussions (i. e. Talking Circles). Twenty-nine children (aged 5–12 years) from three Queensland, Australia OSHC services participated in seven Talking Circles. Discussions were guided by a semi-structured protocol grounded in the Socio-Ecological Model of Health, and children were encouraged to share through conversations and drawings. Data were analysed using the Framework Method, revealing three key themes: [1] Food Environment, [2] Food Preferences, and [3] Nutrition Education. Findings highlighted that food is central to children’s experiences, offering nourishment, socialisation, and enjoyment; however, rigid policies and limited involvement in decision-making hinder engagement. Recommendations for future practice include involving children in food-related activities to foster the development of food agency and enhance their mealtime experiences. Alongside, greater integration of participatory approaches in nutrition research and practice to continue amplifying the voices of children.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.