Childcare Centers are now required to include an obesity prevention program as part of their preschool curriculum. In addition Article 47 of the New York City Health Code requires that group child care centers provide children attending a full-day program with at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. For children ages 3 or older, at least 30 minutes of the 60 minutes must be structured and guided physical activity. To help your center reach this mandate it is suggested that detailed teacher-led physical activity periods be included in all classroom schedules and staff lesson plans. Many teachers need support in learning how to do this.
Faced with these new requirements...
How do preschool directors choose the best quality program for their schools..one that covers not only nutritional guidance but fitness too- helping classroom teachers get the skills they need to provide structured movement activities?
Of course the program has to be affordable, but besides cost, what are the important factors to consider in making the choice? Here are 5 important factors to consider when choosing a program for the preschool or kindergarten population.
1. Combination of great tasting nutritional examples with fun physical activity
Nutrition and exercise go hand in hand when it comes to a successful obesity program. Children should be encouraged to
- Connect great taste with healthy foods that they can taste in the classroom
- Connect structured exercise with an activity they look forward to.
This is the first step to creating healthy habits that will last a lifetime. One way is to make exercise creative and challenging without being competitive. Leapfit kids bring children into the process of creating movements based on a theme they can relate to such as outer space, animals, or sports. Kids get more connected to fitness if they are problem solving and being creative. They get to exercise their bodies with the added bonus of honing leadership skills.
2. Choose a program that provides supplemental lessons
Teachers need simple, easy to implement activities that will drive the message home and provide learning opportunities for the children. One way Leapfit Kids helps teachers is by providing a variety of options for follow up activities. From coloring pages to math lessons that sort fruits, to simple recipes for the classroom, teachers are given choices so they can decide on the activities that are most appropriate for their classrooms
3. Family Outreach
It is not enough to confine an obesity prevention program to the classroom as the goal is to effect a lifestyle change. Leapfit Kids does this by sending parents healthy recipes, updates on what their children have learned in school and even inviting parents to participate in parent/child workouts at school.
4. Program includes all learners, regardless of ability
It’s important that all children, those with special needs as well as staff are motivated by the program and are acting as participants in the program rather than observers. A program has the most impact when everyone is on board so it has to have the flexibility to accommodate everyone. Even if the teacher is not as flexible as the kids, everyone is working together and learning a valuable lesson about persistence- not giving up in the face of a challenge! The focus is on maintaining a positive outlook that is non judgemental.
5. Program is age appropriate
Preschoolers respond to imagery, stories, color and music. One way Leapfit Kids does this is by utilizing child friendly themes such as Farming and Fitness combined with props and music, to create mini aerobic workouts. The children imagine they are farmers and the workout is suddenly fun and exciting as they stomp in imaginary big boots, gather beanbag “eggs”, and bale hay with scarves, all to an upbeat “Old Macdonald had a Farm” song.
Any obesity prevention program should take the long view- encompassing a community strengthening model that links children, school, staff and parents in the program so as to effect real change. In this way a school based program will have the power to transform the community.
Learn about Leapfit Kids here!
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