Gold Sneaker Initiative

1. Gold Sneaker Initiative Introduction

2. Introductions • Please state your • Name • Where you live and work • Which age group of children have the most energy? Give an example • What’s your favorite age group?

3. Vision • To enhance policy related to physical activity and nutrition within licensed child care facilities across the state of Tennessee with the hopes of building lifelong skills for living a healthy life. • Funded by National Governors Association, with funds from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

4. Why? • Tennessee ranks 47th in the nation for overall health status according to the United Health Foundation. • Statistics from Tennessee’s Coordinated School Health Program demonstrate that up to 46% of our school age children are overweight, or at risk of becoming overweight. • The Department of Health data set, measuring yet a different sample of school children, has found similar astonishing results showing 42% of Tennessee’s children being overweight, or at risk of becoming overweight. • With Tennessee leading the nation for mortality and morbidity related to heart disease, stroke and diabetes, coupled with high rates of obesity – the future looks grim.

5. Goal • The aim of this initiative is to encourage child care providers, from both the private sector and the public, to voluntarily adopt physical activity and nutrition policy through the state licensing program.

6. Enhanced Policies Physical Activity Policy • Policy 1.1: Children ages 12 months or older attending a full day program shall be offered at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Children attending less than a full day program shall be offered a proportional amount of such activities. For children ages three and older, at least 30 of the 60 minutes shall be offered as guided physical activity. The remainder of the physical activity may be other active play, learning and movement activities. This must be documented on forms provided with the Gold Sneaker initiative.

7. Enhanced Policies Physical Activity Policy • Policy 1.2: Television, video and other visual recordings shall not be used with children two years of age or younger. For children ages two and older, viewing of television, videos and other visual recordings shall be limited to no more than 60 minutes per day of educational programs or programs that actively engage child movement. Children attending less than a full day program shall be limited to a proportionate amount of such viewing. This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies.

8. Enhanced Policies Physical Activity Policy • Policy 1.3: Children shall not be allowed to remain sedentary or to sit passively for more than 60 minutes continuously, except for scheduled rest or naptime. This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies. • Policy 1.4: Child care facilities must ensure physical activity is used as a reward and is not used for punishment. This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies.

9. Enhanced Policies Enhanced Nutrition Policies • Policy 1.5: Ensure appropriate infant and child feeding patterns, including breastfeeding. Staff will be sensitive to breastfeeding mothers and infants, and their eating patterns. Each breastfeeding infant will have a feeding plan on file, which is completed by the parent/parents and facility as a team to address their unique feeding patterns. • Policy 1.6: Ensure appropriate infant and child feeding patterns, including adequate time for meal consumption. Adequate time for meals and snacks will be allowed for all children, and will be included in classroom lesson plans.

10. Enhanced Policies Enhanced Nutrition Policies • Policy 1.7: Ensure appropriate infant and child feeding patterns, including appropriate portion sizes. Appropriate portion sizes will be assured through staff training and will be monitored by random spot checks for each age group on a monthly basis. Documentation of each shall be on forms for such specified purposes and be made available to the Department of Health for maintenance of the Gold Sneaker designation. • Policy 1.8: No food, candy or drink shall be used to reward any child. This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies and shall be made available to the Department of Health for maintenance of the Gold Sneaker recognition.

11. After the policies, then what? Gold Sneaker Designation • A certificate of achievement presented by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness • Two Gold Sneaker stickers which can be placed on entrance(s) to the facility or used in promotional activities for the facility • Gold Sneaker stickers for your facility • Access to an electronic Gold Sneaker logo to be used in materials produced by the facility • Recognition on the following websites: Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and the Gold Sneaker websites

12. Follow Up …Once Designated • approximately six months following the initial training • Staff attitude toward the enhanced policy implementation will be assessed and maintenance of knowledge will be assessed through a follow up test. • You will get a physical activity kit for completing and returning the survey on time!! • facilities needing further assistance will be identified and targeted by the Child Care Resource & Referral Network to provide additional assistance to ensure the facility’s success

13. Accountability • Assured through monitoring • The Department of Health will perform site visits with at least 20% of all Gold Sneaker child care facilities. • During this site visit, physical activities with children of varying age groups will be observed • required documentation of physical activities will be evaluated • Classroom lesson plans will be observed, paying particular attention to the inclusion of adequate time for the required physical activity and adequate time for consuming meals and snacks. • Breastfeeding infant feeding plans will be reviewed to assure completion by the family and the facility. • The facility’s policies will be reviewed to assure the relevant policy information is included. • Employee training materials will be examined to assure that the Gold Sneaker policies are stated as standard practice for the child care facility.

14. Policy Implementation • Lets look at how to implement the policies, one by one. • Trainees pull out the implementation packet. We will refer to the packet as we describe how to enact each of the enhanced policies.