Objective:

Analyze the concept of the adoption of healthy behavior during childhood.

Materials and methods:

Walker and Avant's proposal (2005) was used to examine the defining characteristics and attributes of the concept. A bibliographic database search was done in Science Direct, PubMed and Scielo for the period between 2000 and 2016.

Results:

The adoption of healthy behavior during childhood refers to the process whereby forms of behavior are either assimilated or appropriated. It can be an ordered, interrupted, coordinated or, in some cases, completely disordered process. It includes the child's actions, attitudes, interactions and emotions with respect to his or her their well-being, which can facilitate, reinforce or improve health. It is a process of an evolutionary nature that is continually influenced by the context and can lead to the establishment of a habit.

Conclusions:

Clarification of this concept broadens what we know about the phenomenon. This, in turn, will make it possible to consolidate and propose strategies for promotion, prevention and intervention, as well as to guide research and the practice of nursing care during childhood.

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