The Problem:
The average 4- to 5-year-old child consumes 17 teaspoons of added sugar each day, or 65 pounds per year! The majority of that sugar comes from fruit drinks, high-fat desserts, soft drinks, and candy.
One Solution:
A storybook for young children featuring a beloved animal whose loves to drink—and spread the word about the benefits of—water. Potter the Otter: A Tale About Water was developed to help parents and early childhood education and care providers speak with children about making healthier drink choices. In addition to the story and colorful illustrations, there is a counting and tracing page, a coloring page, and an infographic showing the amount of sugar in some popular beverages.
This resource includes suggestions for parents and early childhood education providers on how they can serve as role models by drinking water themselves and by participating in other activities related to healthy, active living. Potter the Otter is told in both English and Spanish, and is posted on the NCECHW portal of the Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC).
