Nutrition-safety videocassette instruction for latchkey children

The purpose of this study was to develop a nutrition and kitchen and appliance safety instructional videotape to enhance and improve comprehension of the subject in fifth grade health classes. Subjects were assigned to groups in each of two towns based on reading level. Reading levels were defined as average and above average for the fifth grade. The control groups received lecture/ demonstration instruction while the experimental groups received the video instruction. A third town was treated in the same manner and used as a pilot group. Knowledge was measured by a pre- and posttest instrument after viewing either the demonstration or the 13-minute videotape. No significant difference was found to exist between the teaching methods or between the towns. A demographic survey was completed by the parents of the fifth grade students to help determine which appliances children do or do not use and the foods children prepare most often. This videotape could be a useful tool for enhancing learning in nutrition and kitchen and appliance safety of fifth grade children.