A brief CV

Assistant Professor, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece

Eleni Tymba is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Early Childhood Care & Education of the International Hellenic University (IHU). She has over 20 years of professional experience in the field of preschool education and 5 years of teaching experience in undergraduate and postgraduate programs (University of Ioannina, Kapodistrian University of Athens, IHU). Her research interests and work focus on issues related to child development, the role of play in acquiring healthy behaviors, the importance of fairy tales in acquiring healthy attitudes, the contribution of art to the lifestyle of the child and the family and pedagogical approaches that facilitate learning from the birth of the child up to the age of six. She has published more than 20 papers in scientific journals and has participated in research projects funded by the European Union. She has participated in many International Conferences and has participated in training seminars for preschool teachers.

Art in children’s life

Several studies provide the value of nutrition and environmental education programs as well as arts participation early in life (Joseph L et.al. 2015, Bautista A. et.al. 2017). Art activities stimulate creativity, build brain capacity by providing new problems to solve and attest positive social and healthy outcomes in early childhood (Dipti A. et al 2019, Bellows L. et al 2018)

The aim of this study was to estimate children’s knowledge on healthy eating habits and recycling materials’ uses, as well as to explore the role of art and art activities on these issues.

The findings suggest that post-intervention children had a more enhanced understanding of healthy and nutritional choices, a better perception of recycling materials either at home or at school and a critical appreciation that art and art activities can have an important place in daily schedules.

The study highlights the need for more involvement in art education as a tool for healthy and environmental issues and result in all-sided development.