Role Modeling Healthy Behaviors in Early Care Centers

Role Modeling Healthy BehaviorsinEarly Care Centers Grow Healthy Team Nutrition Initiative Family and Community Health Sciences Department Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Grow Healthy Team Nutrition: Early Care Centers • Early Care Centers have been awarded mini-grants to implement Grow Healthy Team Nutrition initiative • Goals: • Enhance the center’s wellness environment and policies • Use the garden and tastings to promote healthy eating, enhance nutrition learning experiences and improve the quality of foods served at the center • Implement strategies to engage families in wellness activities and positive role modeling

Staff Training Webinars: Wellness Policies in Early Care Centers Role Modeling Healthy Behaviors in Early Care Centers Choosing Recipes for Healthy Kids in Early Care Settings Win with Tastings in Early Care Centers Connect, Engage & Sustain Parents in School Wellness

Objectives After completing today’s webinar participants will be able to: • Implement strategies to model healthy behaviors to encourage children to eat healthy foods, participate in physical activity, and drink more water • Identify resources to facilitate healthy behaviors

You have the opportunity to make a powerful difference! • Working with children and families every day gives you a unique opportunity to influence health behaviors. • Being a good role model is a great way to help children develop healthy eating and physical activity habits.

Healthy children are ready to learn and explore.

How can we help children be healthy? Model Healthy Habits!

Be Active, Every Day • Daily, indoors and out, for all children: • Opportunities to practice age-appropriate motor and movement skills • Toddlers: • At least 60-90 minutes of active play • Preschoolers: • At least 120 minutes of active play • Opportunities for “breathless” play

How can we help young children be active? • Participate with children and show them that you enjoy active play every day. • Lead activities two or more times per day. • Walk, march, hop, skip, stomp, etc. around the classroom, neighborhood or playground • Play musical movement games, such as “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” “Hokey Pokey,” and “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” • Dance time

How can we help young children be active? • Read stories that children act out physically, such as: • Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton • Catch the Ball! By Eric Carle • We’re Going On a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen • Share stories about the activities you do outside of work.

Encourage Water • Make water available indoors and out. • Take water jugs outside with you. • Limit 100% fruit juice to 4-6 oz. per day • Avoid drinking sugary drinks, including large amounts of juice in front of children. • Talk to children about the food and drinks you are serving and why.

Encourage Water • Encourage children to serve themselves. • Use child size pitchers and single use cups. • Keep water and cups at child level all day. • Display photos of children drinking water and healthy foods.

Serve and Eat Healthy Foods • Fruits and/or vegetables are served at every meal and snack; fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables • Fried/pre-fried foods are served only 1x/month or never • Make half of grains whole grains • Choose low-fat dairy - 1% or fat-free • Choose lean meats and protein

Model Healthy Eating Habits • Eat healthy foods together. • Be willing to try new foods with children. • Make positive comments about healthy eating. • Create positive, cheerful and unhurried meal and snack times. • Serve meals and snacks family style. • Engage children in simple cooking activities.

Try some of these tips found in the Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young ChildrenProvider Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program • Make Food Fun • Give it a Name • Have a Tasting Day http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/nutritionandwellness.html

More tips from:Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young ChildrenProvider Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program • Cook Together • Grow Your Own http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/nutritionandwellness.html

MyPlate for Preschoolers • Reluctant eaters • Portion sizes • Make food fun! • Cooking activities • Tip sheet for families http://www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers.html

You are the key to helping kids grow up healthy! The healthy habits you model and teach will last a lifetime! Have fun!

For More Information • Family and Community Health Sciences, Grow Healthy http://growhealthy.rutgers.edu/ • Let’s Move! Child Care www.healthykidshealthyfuture.org/ • American Academy of Pediatrics www.healthychildren.org • United States Department of Agriculture www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers/growth.html

Evaluation Thank you for viewing this webinar. Please click on the following link to complete a brief survey evaluation. Upon completion of the evaluation you will be able to download a certificate of participation for 0.5 credit hours. Click Here to Access the Evaluation Resources used in this webinar are available on our website: http://growhealthy.rutgers.edu Additional Grow Healthy training webinars are also our website. Corey Wu-Jung, MS, RDN; Daryl Minch, MEd, CFCS; LeeAnne Savoca, MS, RD; Luanne Hughes, MS, RD; Michelle F. Brill, MPH; Alexandra Grenci, MS, RD, LDN, CDE; Sherri Cirignano, MS, RD, LDN

Role Modeling Healthy Behaviors in Early Care Centers