The First Lady’s Let’s Move! Child Care Initiative Selects Our House Family Child Care and Early Education to be Recognized in Washington, DC for Exceptional Work to Prevent Childhood Obesity
On May 9, 2012, the First Lady’s Let’s Move! Child Care initiative will recognize Our House Family Child Care and Early Education for exceptional work to promote young children’s health and prevent childhood obesity. Summer Lettau, owner and Early Childhood Educator will be recognized at the Let’s Move! Child Care Recognition Luncheon, sponsored by Nemours. The Let’s Move! Child Care Recognition Luncheon will take place on May 9, 2012 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. White House Assistant Chef and Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives, Sam Kass, will give keynote remarks and highlight Summer Lettau’s efforts. The Luncheon is invitation only. Press is welcome to attend.
Our House Family Child Care and Early Education was selected for recognition for carrying out exceptional work to promote and implement the goals of Let’s Move! Child Care, including using creative strategies, engaging families in obesity prevention efforts, and overcoming challenges to get children moving and encourage healthy eating in the early care and education setting. Our House Family Child Care and Early Education is one of twenty selected for recognition, including early education and child care programs and networks, communities, and states. Summer Lettau shares about her selection, “I am excited and proud that even a small program from Lansing, MI is being recognized for the difference it makes in the lives of children and families. Nutrition and healthy choices are part of our discussions every day. It is wonderful to have the chance to share our successes with others.”
Let’s Move! Child Care is a nationwide call-to-action to empower early education and child care programs to make positive health changes in children that could last a lifetime. The initiative focuses on five goals:
· Physical Activity: Provide 1-2 hours of physical activity throughout the day, including outside play when possible.
· Screen Time: No screen time for children under 2 years. For children age 2 and older, strive to limit screen time to no more than 30 minutes per week during child care, and work with parents and caregivers to ensure children have no more than 1-2 hours of quality screen time per day, the amount recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
· Food: Serve fruits or vegetables at every meal, eat meals family-style when possible, and no fried foods.
· Beverages: Provide access to water during meals and throughout the day, and do not serve sugary drinks. For children age two and older, serve low-fat (1%) or non-fat milk, and no more than one 4-6 ounce serving of 100% juice per day.
· Infant feeding: For mothers who want to continue breastfeeding, provide their milk to their infants and welcome them to breastfeed during the child care day; and support all new parents in their decisions about infant feeding.
Our House Family Child Care and Early Education is committed to these five goals, educating children and families on the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. The children are involved in all aspects of their nutritional program. With Summer Lettau’s guidance the children create grocery lists of healthy choices then take trips to the market to shop for their items. The children also learn to make healthy food choices when eating in restaurants. Physical activity is part of every day. Even if the weather does not allow them to go outside the children may dance, play with a parachute, or participate in yoga inside.
“Instead of hiding vegetables in foods, the children know what is in our food because they help prepare it. We celebrate how many different veggies we can incorporate and how many unhealthy foods we can substitute. I want children to internalize the skills needed for healthy eating so when they are making food choices on their own, they know what to do.” Summer Lettau, owner and Early Childhood Educator for Our House Family Child Care and Early Education.
Let’s Move! Child Care is supported by public and private partners, including the Office of the First Lady, White House Domestic Policy Council, Administration for Children and Families, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources and Services Administration, Nemours, Child Care Aware of America and University of North Carolina. For more information about Let’s Move! Child Care, please visit: www.healthykidshealthyfuture.org, created and hosted by Nemours.
Our House Family Child Care and Early Education is a family child care home located in Lansing, Michigan serving infants through school age children. The curriculum is emergent and based on the questions and interests of the children. Activities are planned for multiple ages with adaptations for each child’s unique needs and level of development. For more information about Our House Family Child Care and Early Education, please visit: www.ourhousefamily.weebly.com.
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Our House Family Child Care and Early Education was selected for recognition for carrying out exceptional work to promote and implement the goals of Let’s Move! Child Care, including using creative strategies, engaging families in obesity prevention efforts, and overcoming challenges to get children moving and encourage healthy eating in the early care and education setting. Our House Family Child Care and Early Education is one of twenty selected for recognition, including early education and child care programs and networks, communities, and states. Summer Lettau shares about her selection, “I am excited and proud that even a small program from Lansing, MI is being recognized for the difference it makes in the lives of children and families. Nutrition and healthy choices are part of our discussions every day. It is wonderful to have the chance to share our successes with others.”
Let’s Move! Child Care is a nationwide call-to-action to empower early education and child care programs to make positive health changes in children that could last a lifetime. The initiative focuses on five goals:
· Physical Activity: Provide 1-2 hours of physical activity throughout the day, including outside play when possible.
· Screen Time: No screen time for children under 2 years. For children age 2 and older, strive to limit screen time to no more than 30 minutes per week during child care, and work with parents and caregivers to ensure children have no more than 1-2 hours of quality screen time per day, the amount recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
· Food: Serve fruits or vegetables at every meal, eat meals family-style when possible, and no fried foods.
· Beverages: Provide access to water during meals and throughout the day, and do not serve sugary drinks. For children age two and older, serve low-fat (1%) or non-fat milk, and no more than one 4-6 ounce serving of 100% juice per day.
· Infant feeding: For mothers who want to continue breastfeeding, provide their milk to their infants and welcome them to breastfeed during the child care day; and support all new parents in their decisions about infant feeding.
Our House Family Child Care and Early Education is committed to these five goals, educating children and families on the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. The children are involved in all aspects of their nutritional program. With Summer Lettau’s guidance the children create grocery lists of healthy choices then take trips to the market to shop for their items. The children also learn to make healthy food choices when eating in restaurants. Physical activity is part of every day. Even if the weather does not allow them to go outside the children may dance, play with a parachute, or participate in yoga inside.
“Instead of hiding vegetables in foods, the children know what is in our food because they help prepare it. We celebrate how many different veggies we can incorporate and how many unhealthy foods we can substitute. I want children to internalize the skills needed for healthy eating so when they are making food choices on their own, they know what to do.” Summer Lettau, owner and Early Childhood Educator for Our House Family Child Care and Early Education.
Let’s Move! Child Care is supported by public and private partners, including the Office of the First Lady, White House Domestic Policy Council, Administration for Children and Families, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources and Services Administration, Nemours, Child Care Aware of America and University of North Carolina. For more information about Let’s Move! Child Care, please visit: www.healthykidshealthyfuture.org, created and hosted by Nemours.
Our House Family Child Care and Early Education is a family child care home located in Lansing, Michigan serving infants through school age children. The curriculum is emergent and based on the questions and interests of the children. Activities are planned for multiple ages with adaptations for each child’s unique needs and level of development. For more information about Our House Family Child Care and Early Education, please visit: www.ourhousefamily.weebly.com.
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