Active kids club celebrates

It is no secret that overweight and obese children is an emergent problem in the country, state, and county. It is a direct derivative of the overweight and obese status that affects nearly 2/3 of all U.S. adults and 1/3 of U.S. children.
Through successful policy and environmental changes, physical activity and nutrition programming can be added to help the fight against obesity. Childcare facilities, in addition to local media outlets, elementary schools, worksites, municipalities and churches, serve as successful examples of how the Fit Together Initiative has been able to help create policies that make up healthy eating and physical activity programs within Cleveland County.
In conjunction with the Cleveland County Health Department's Obesity Prevention Fit Together Initiative and the Alliance for Health of Cleveland County, local childcare facilities are participating in healthy eating and physical activity interventions with their preschool children over the last four years. This fiscal year, five childcare facilities and one family care home were selected to participate in the Fit Together Initiative.
During this year, childcare directors and teachers were trained on the Be Active and Color Me Healthy curricula, which are for children ages 3-5, and help children value healthy eating and physical activity at an early age. Each selected center receives formal recognition at the annual Child Care Connections provider's banquet, a picnic celebration at city park, and an incentive package to help them use the two curricula.
This past Wednesday, the 2008 child care participants were treated to the Be Active Kids Club Picnic Celebration at Shelby City Park, where they were rewarded for becoming "fit together" in Cleveland County.
Directors, teachers and children of LaPetite Academy, Shelby Childcare and Development Center, Higher Learning Child Care, Children First Daycare, Stoney Point Daycare Center and Grandma's Angels Child Development Center enjoyed carousel and train rides, Be Active activities, healthy snacks as well as door prizes.
This is the fourth and final year of the Fit Together Initiative, and the last round of local childcare facilities and homes to participate in this program. Kudos to each of these childcare facilities for their hard work and efforts at making the children of Cleveland County healthier!

Karma Edwards is Fit Together project coordinator with the Cleveland County Health Department. The Fit Together initiative is funded by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina and the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund. She is also the Director of Health Education and Promotion at the health department.