This resource provides evidence-informed professional development to early care and education and youth development professionals to improve the quality of their care and educational practices. Online training is available for child care professionals with more than 200 relevant modules. Just pay $5 for a certificate of completion. The Sierra Vista Library will extend computer time for anyone taking these courses.
The six training modules provide practical strategies for implementing best practices in the early care and education (ECE) setting for promoting healthy weight in young children and are an opportunity for ECE providers to obtain CEUs from Penn State and professional development credits from many states’ licensing and/or quality improvement systems. The training series includes six lessons that cover background information for childhood obesity prevention and the five best practice goals: increase physical activity, limit screen time, offer healthy beverages, serve healthy food, and support infant feeding.
Let’s Move! Child Care Introduction: Let’s Move! Child Care (LMCC) is part of Let’s Move!, a comprehensive initiative started by Michelle Obama to help turn the rising tide of childhood obesity in the United States. Child care providers play an important role in helping to develop healthy eating and physical activity habits in young children. This lesson is an overview of the issue of childhood obesity and an introduction to the LMCC lesson series that covers the five goal areas in greater detail. (K7.3 C1, CDA 2) 2 hours
Lesson objectives
• Understand the basics about childhood obesity prevention and why the child care provider plays an important role.
• Develop awareness of the resources and tips available for preventing childhood obesity in the early care and education setting.
• Describe the five goal areas for Let’s Move! Child Care.
• Learn how to participate in the Let’s Move! Child Care Initiative.
Let’s Move Child Care – Increase Physical Activity: Goal number one in the Let’s Move! Child Care initiative is to get kids moving (increase physical activity). Research shows that physical activity provides many benefits for everyone and that it is important for parents and care providers to be good role models. This lesson can help child care providers learn the most up-to-date recommendations for physical activity levels for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, and presents new ways to keep kids moving. (K7.3 C2, CDA 2) 2 hours
Lesson objectives
• Identify the benefits of physical activity.
• Understand Let’s Move! Child Care Goal 1 and best practices for physical activity to keep kids moving.
• Develop strategies and ideas to keep kids active.
• Learn about the resources and tips available on the Let’s Move! Child Care web site to help increase physical activity levels.
Let’s Move Child Care – Limit Screen Time: Goal two in Let’s Move! Child Care is to reduce (limit) screen time. Studies show that children who spend more time viewing TV are at an increased risk for overweight and obesity due to increased sedentary activity. Screen time refers to all digital media including TV and can interfere with cognitive development for children under the age of two. Child care providers will learn the best practice recommendations and gain an understanding for why it is important to reduce (limit) screen time for young children. (K7.3 C2, CDA 2) 2 hours
Lesson objectives
• Identify the benefits of reducing or managing screen time.
• Understand Let’s Move! Child Care Goal 2 and best practices for screen time.
• Determine strategies and ideas to reduce or eliminate screen time in your child care program.
• Learn about the resources and tips available on the Let’s Move! Child Care website.
Let’s Move Child Care – Serve Healthy Food: The third goal in the Let’s Move! Child Care initiative is to nurture healthy eaters (serve healthy food). Lay the foundation for healthy choices and habits early in childhood by serving healthy food and providing positive mealtime experiences in the child care setting. Child care professionals will learn the benefits of offering healthy food including strategies and ideas to encourage healthy eating. (K7.12 C2, CDA 2) 2 hours
Lesson objectives
• Identify the benefits of nurturing healthy eaters (offering healthy food).
• Understand Let’s Move! Child Care Goal three and best practices for nurturing healthy eaters (serving healthy food).
• Determine strategies and ideas to encourage healthy eating.
• Learn about the resources and tips available on the Let’s Move! Child Care website.
Let’s Move Child Care – Offer Healthy Beverages: The fourth goal in the Let’s Move! Child Care Initiative is to provide (offer) healthy beverages. Calories found in beverages count just like calories in food so it is important to make sure that the healthiest choices are offered. With so many beverage options now available, the choices can be confusing to parents and caregivers. Child care providers will learn appropriate beverage options for children in their care, the benefits of healthy beverages and strategies for how best to transition to serving them. (K7.12 C2, CDA 2) 2 hours
Lesson objectives
• Know the benefits of providing healthy beverages.
• Understand Let’s Move! Child Care Goal Four and best practices for providing and offering healthy beverages.
• Get strategies and ideas for providing healthy beverages.
• Learn about the resources and tips available on the Let’s Move! Child Care Website.
Let’s Move Child Care – Support Infant Feeding: Goal number five in the Let’s Move! Child Care initiative is to support infant breastfeeding by encouraging mothers to breastfeed. Breastfeeding benefits mothers and babies in many ways, including helping to prevent childhood obesity. Continuing to breastfeed for the recommended amount of time can be challenging, especially when children need to be in child care. Child care providers will learn practical solutions for encouraging and supporting mothers to breastfeed their babies.(K7.13 C1, CDA 2) 2 hours
Lesson objectives
• Understand the LMCC Support Breastfeeding goal and best practices for infant feeding.
• Know the benefits of supporting breastfeeding mothers and babies.
• Discover strategies and ideas to create a private room for mothers to use to breastfeed or pump.
• Learn about the resources and tips available on the Let’s Move! Child Care website.