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Color Me Healthy

Situation:
Taylor County received a Harkin Wellness Grant. One of the major projects was to expand, develop and implement innovative strategies that address healthy lifestyles including nutrition and physical activity for children in day care and preschool settings.

Response:
Ten registered day care home providers, 7 preschools, and 2 parent Growing Strong Families parent educators participated in a Color Me Healthy Training, a healthy lifestyle curriculum and training, designed especially for preschoolers and providers. Twenty-four individuals representing registered day care providers, home visitation educators, preschool directors and their staff attended the training. Iowa State University Extension Staff facilitated two trainings. The Harkin Wellness Grant provided the curriculum and stipends for each facility/day care home provider to purchase large motor skill equipment.

Impact:

• 194 children benefited from educational materials included in the curriculum.
• Each preschool attending the training and receiving the curriculum received $500 to be used for large motor skill equipment; registered home providers received $200.
• 100% if the 24 Color Me Healthy participants learned new knowledge or skills that will help preschoolers eat healthy and stay active.
• 100% of the 24 Color Me Healthy participants listed one new item or concept that will help with teaching children about healthy eating and physical activity. Many of the respondents shared ways of introducing new fruits and vegetables, eating a rainbow of colors, identifying new physical activities, and using music to add fun to healthy lifestyles education.
• 100% of all children used the newly purchased equipment.
• 100% of the participants plan to continue to use the Color Me Healthy curriculum and activities new year.
• Registered day care providers and preschool teachers comments:
  • Positive changes in the children in respect to healthy eating share providers and teachers include:
    • “One child used to bring only pizza and chips in his lunch, but now is bringing fruits and other more nutrient dense foods.”
    • “Many (children) of them are making better distinctions between fruits and vegetables.”
    • “(The children) try foods better. They now try at least one veggie, one fruit, etc.”
  • Positive changes in the children in respect to physical activity shared by providers and teachers include:
    • “They (children) always enjoyed the physical activity but really look forward to and enjoy doing the imaginary trips (physical activity).”
    • All providers and teachers reported positive attitudes in changes involving physical activity.

Contact:
Kim Brantner
Taylor County Extension Education Director
609 Pollock Blvd.
 Bedford, IA 50833
brantner@iastate.edu
Phone 712-523-2137
Email brantner@iastate.edu

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Last update: September 11, 2006  
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