title: Giocampus school: a "learning through playing" approach to deliver nutritional education to children.
abstract: To improve nutritional knowledge of children, single-group educational interventions with pre/post knowledge assessment were performed in primary schools in Parma, Italy, participating to the Giocampus Program. A total of 8165 children (8-11 years old) of 3rd, 4th and 5th grades of primary school were involved in 3 hours per class nutritional lessons, with specifically designed games and activities for each school grade. To evaluate children learning, a questionnaire was administered before and after three months of educational intervention. A total of 16330 questionnaires were analysed. Children nutritional knowledge significantly increased (p< 0.001) in all school grades. The integrated "learning through playing" approach, including the educational figures, tools and games, was successful in improving children's nutritional knowledge. A stable integration of this method in primary school settings could prepare a new generation of citizens, better educated on health-promotion lifestyles.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Food Science , University of Parma , Parma , Italy ;
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Food Science , University of Parma , Parma , Italy ;
authors.forename: Furio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brighenti
authors.affiliation: b Giocampus Steering Committee , Parma , Italy ;
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Finistrella
authors.affiliation: c Madegus S.R.L , Parma , Italy ;
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ingrosso
authors.affiliation: d Children Hospital Pietro Barilla, University of Parma , Parma , Italy ;
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.affiliation: e Postgraduate School of Pediatrics , University of Parma , Parma , Italy ;
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanelli
authors.affiliation: f Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences , University of Parma , Parma , Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: b Giocampus Steering Committee , Parma , Italy ;
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Volta
authors.affiliation: a Department of Food Science , University of Parma , Parma , Italy ;
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scazzina
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D004032:Diet; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D010988:Play and Playthings; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Edutainment; Master of Taste; healthy eating; nutrition literacy; primary school