Early Child Care
Our Approach
We are tackling childhood obesity in its’ earliest stages by improving the quality and access of healthy foods and beverages, screen time limits, physical activity and breastfeeding in early care and education centers (ECEs).
By providing extensive training, encouraging family engagement and promoting consistent policies, we will increase the number of Kentucky’s youngest children who receive care in a healthy, supportive center.
Why Early Care and Education Centers?
We know that half of obese children were already overweight in preschool, suggesting that obesity gains its strong hold early in life and by the time children get to kindergarten we have already missed the best opportunity for prevention. There are over 280,000 children age 5 and younger in Kentucky, many of which spend 35 hours per week on average in ECE settings. By working with ECE providers to increase opportunities for obesity prevention among our youngest children, we are impacting the present prevalence and future health of Kentucky’s children.
Highlights
5210 Healthy Numbers for Kentucky Families
The current 5210 campaign is designed to give parents, healthcare professionals and child care providers an easy, memorable way to talk about preschooler health. By using a consistent message, it encourages the adoption simple strategies to prevent childhood obesity. Free materials and downloadable posters, brochures, activity ideas, coloring pages and parent activities are available through the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Obesity Prevention Program webpage.
Early Care and Education Learning Collaborative
The Kentucky Early Care and Education Learning Collaborative Project (ECELC) helps ECE providers adopt nutrition, breastfeeding support, physical activity, and screen time policies and practices. Currently, 75 centers in Kentucky are participating in comprehensive assessment, training, planning and technical assistance. For more information on the CDC-funded project, please visit the Let’s Move! Child Care webpage or contact the ECELC temporary project manager, Elizabeth A Hoagland, ElizabethA.Hoagland@ky.gov or 502-564-9358 ext 4018.
Farm to Child Care Pilot
Building from the previous success with Kentucky Farm to Schools, this program aims to provide locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables in early care facilities. By establishing direct purchasing relationships with a local produce grower, training providers on proper food handling and service techniques, and engaging the community, the F2C pilot will cultivate knowledge and preference for fresh fruits and vegetables in our youngest children.
Related Resources
| Kentucky’s Vision for Early Care and Education [PDF] Learn more about Kentucky’s plan to improve access and quality of healthy foods and beverages, screen time limits, physical activity opportunities and breastfeeding support in early care and education settings. New! Healthy Lifestyle Online Training Series |
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| 5210 Healthy Numbers for Kentucky Families 5210 WebinarDownloadable PDFs of posters, brochures, activity ideas, coloring pages and parent activities. To order additional free 5210 resources, email ElizabethA.Hoagland@ky.gov |
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| Child Care Setting and Physical Activity Manual [PDF] This manual provides adults who work with children opportunities and ideas for integrating different physical activity breaks throughout the classroom. |
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| Kentucky’s Call to Action for Preventing Obesity in Early Care and Education [PDF] Learn more about Kentucky’s plan to improve the quality and access of healthy foods and beverages, screen time limits, physical activity, and breastfeeding. If your organization wishes to officially endorse the “Call to Action” please complete and return this Pledge Form. |
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Let’s Move! Child Care
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