Five fruit and vegetables and five praises a day: the case for a proactive approach

The government has adopted the five outcomes of Every Child Matters as guiding principles for all those caring for and working with children. One of the ways in which efforts are being made to help children achieve good physical health is to encourage them to eat 'five fruit and vegetables a day'. This article sets out the case that practitioners can help children achieve good mental health by encouraging parents and those who care for children to give them at least'five praises a day'. Babies are predisposed from birth to make close social and emotional attachments with their main caregivers, and typically receive generous and loving admiration and appreciation. However, we know that some parents may not understand how infants and toddlers continue to need active nurturing attention, praise and positive messages from those who care for them as they grow. The authors seek to develop their inter-professional campaign to extend the 'five fruit and vegetables a day' maxim to include'five praises a day' for children. Health visitors are uniquely placed to help parents, to explain and encourage the contribution that praise and positive feedback make toward children's general wellbeing and sound mental health.