Karen s Kids Helping Kids Eat Well & Be Active Creating Bulletin Boards to Engage Families textplaceholder TITLEPLACEHOLDER 1 www.cocokids.org
2 Helping Kids Eat Well & Be Active: Creating Bulletin Boards to Engage Families was developed to create nutrition and physical activity bulletin boards to assist in communication with parents in multicultural and bilingual child care settings. You may replicate these boards, or use these ideas to create your own. This booklet is meant as a starting place to engage parents in discussion about helping kids eat well and be active. Helping Kids Eat Well & Be Active Creating Bulletin Boards to Engage Families How Bulletin Boards Can Be Maximized for Parent/Family Interaction......... 5 Important Points to Consider for Creation of Bulletin Boards... 7 Bulletin Board Examples Active Children, Healthy Children.... 9 Taste the Colors Be Healthy....................... 11 Let s Eat Vegetables................................ 13 Just Move!.... 15 Rethink Your Drinks.... 17 Where s the Fruit?................................. 19 I Want to Grow Up Healthy......................... 21 Which Milk Is Healthiest?........................... 23 Eat a Rainbow of Fruit & Vegetables................. 25 Your Bulletin Board Message... 26 2009 Contra Costa Child Care Council
4 Healthier Drinks Family Activities Nutrition Fruit Vegetables Bulletin board design tips to engage parents: Give it a focused message Make it bilingual Make it colorful Important Karen s Kids How Bulletin Boards Can Be Maximized for Parent/Family Interaction Identify best place at child care site for interaction Outside of classroom near entrance Inside classroom near parent check in area Inside classroom at designated parent corner Identify best time of day for engaging parents/family At beginning of school day At end of school day Midday between a.m. and p.m. session At parent meetings At parent orientation meeting Early learner fair or similar activity 5
Important Points to Consider for Creation of Bulletin Boards Audience Theme Budget Frequency Location Age Ethnicity Literacy level Language Will the board be bilingual? Will the board be interactive? Is the board designed with a particular lesson plan in mind? Does the topic of the board have a seasonal connection? If the project is grant funded, what are the parameters of the funding resource? Materials cost Staff time to create boards Reproduction costs Transportation costs Monthly Quarterly Semi-annually In a parent display area In a classroom area On a wall Near a window Consult with center staff for their suggestions Materials Educational Resources Bulletin Board Assembly Bulletin Board Installation Evaluation Type of bulletin board Identify the color of the background paper Identify the pictures/photos/materials to use for the board Obtain permission to copy materials if appropriate Identify the words that describe the message of the board If the board is bilingual, facilitate the translation process Obtain easel for board display Identify educational materials that support the bulletin board key message Determine how resources will be presented Gather all materials together Do sample layout of pictures, photos, banner, messages Ask co-workers who understand the intended audience to review and critique board message and impact Note comments and revise as necessary Identify the types of adhesives to use to complete the board and attach the various pieces to the board If in a school setting, contact the teacher to determine the best time to put up the board Identify the best location for the board Install the board using appropriate materials for the board location Determine evaluation method before the start of the project Measure success of each bulletin board Measure success of entire project 7
Active Children, Healthy Children Pictures of children in active play draw your attention to the message I Walk Because. This is followed by the listing of five important reasons to encourage/enjoy walking. The brochures describing regional walking trails provide suggestions of nearby places to explore with your child. Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline Map; Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Map (East Bay Regional Park District) I Walk Because (Contra Costa Child Care Council) Identify local resources for physical activity Impact of physical activity as a family activity Identify health benefits of regular physical activity Parents as role models for physical activity 9
Taste the Colors Be Healthy The large picture of fruits and vegetables progresses, like the colors of a rainbow from red, orange, yellow, green, blue to purple. The question What is your favorite? and the 3-D measuring cups showing preschool serving size for fruits/vegetables encourage parent engagement. : Seasonal Guide to Fruits and Vegetables Fall/Winter (USDA) Feed Me! Age 4 5 (WIC) : Parents are responsible for providing a variety of fruits and vegetables in the home Why variety of fruits and vegetables is important Identify the correct portion sizes for children Identify the correct portion sizes for adults Parents as role models for eating a variety of fruits and vegetables 11
Let s Eat Vegetables A real straw hat, decorated with colorful vegetables and green leaves, catches one s eye. The message describes simple ideas for including vegetables in children s daily diets. Seasonal Guide to Fruits and Vegetables Fall/Winter (USDA) But Mom I Hate Vegetables (WIC) Smart Shopping Tips (WIC); Be a Smart Shopper Use Unit Prices (WIC) USDA recommendations for vegetable servings per day Identify ways to increase vegetable consumption Identify resources for vegetables: farmers market, etc. Parents are role models for eating vegetables 13
Easily recognized Sesame Street characters having fun being active will attract both children and adults. The message is about the importance of children s play, of parents playing with their children, and of parents as role models for an active lifestyle. Just Move It! (WIC) Playing With Your 3 5 Year Old (WIC) Just Move! Parents are responsible for providing opportunities for physical activity Children need to be active for 60 minutes a day Children/families can be active with few resources Parents as role models for physical activity 15
Rethink Your Drinks The 3-D display of bottles and containers, plus the packages of sugar cubes representing the teaspoons of sugar in each drink, is self-explanatory. This clearly shows the large amount of sugar present in popular drinks contrasted with the healthy choices of 1% milk or 100% fruit juice. Water is placed in the middle as the anytime, everyday drink. Rethink Your Drink! (WIC) How Much Sugar Does Your Drink Contain? (WIC) Healthy Teeth for Happy Smiles (WIC) How to read and interpret a nutrition label What is the best beverage for thirst? Parents are in charge of providing healthy beverages for their home How beverages are marketed to children Parents as role models for healthy beverage choices 17
Where s The Fruit? One is immediately drawn to the brightly colored, easily recognized pictures of familiar food products that appear to contain fruit, but do not. These non-fruit products are contrasted with examples of 100% real fruit fresh, canned and dried. My Favorite Fruits / What Counts as One Cup of Fruits? Loving Your Family Feeding Their Future (USDA) How to read a nutrition label? How to interpret a nutrition label? Recognize junk food marketing to consumers and its impact on family health Importance of real fruit consumption versus artificial fruit sources in processed foods Parents are responsible for choosing foods that are served to their children 19
I Want To Grow Up Healthy The charming preschoolers draw your attention. The messages are presented as guidance/instruction that will help children learn to eat well, spoken by the children to the adults that are responsible for feeding them. These are just a few of the messages from a poster created by the Contra Costa Child Care Council that can be downloaded in English or Spanish from the website: www.cocokids.org I Want to Grow Up Healthy (Contra Costa Child Care Council) Color Me Healthy parent newsletter Seasonal Guide to Fruits and Vegetables spring/summer (WIC) Promoting healthy eating by sharing meals and snack times with children Parents as role models in developing healthy nutrition habits for a lifetime Feeding relationships: Parents are responsible for what is served and when and where it is served. Children are responsible for how much and whether they eat 21
Which Milk is Healthiest? Parents have many varieties of milk to choose from and the decision as to what type of milk to buy for the family is often a confusing and difficult one. This bulletin board clarifies the nutrient content of four different types of milk with the emphasis on total fat, protein, calcium and calories. Which Milk Is Healthiest (WIC and Dairy Council of California Healthy Habits Every Day 2009) Lowfat 1% Milk (WIC Healthy Habits Every Day 2009) Lose the Fat, Keep the Vitamins: Drink Lowfat Milk Worksheet (WIC Healthy Habits Every Day 2009) Identify the differences between whole milk, reduced fat 2% milk, lowfat 1% milk and nonfat milk Identify ways to use lowfat milk Parents are responsible for choosing the milk that is served to their children Parents as role models for drinking milk 23
Eat a Rainbow of Fruit & Vegetables This colorful bulletin board with examples of fruits and vegetables creates visual interest and curiosity to the viewer. The questions encourage the viewer to think about what colors their family eats most and least often, resulting in possibly increasing the variety of fruits and vegetables consumed in their home. Importance of Fruits and Vegetables (WIC-Farmers Market Nutrition Program handout) Get Healthy Now Worksheet: Eat a Rainbow of Fruits and Vegetables! (WIC Healthy Habits Every Day 2009) Seasonal Guide to Fruits and Vegetables spring/summer (WIC) Parents are responsible for providing a variety of fruits and vegetables in the home Why a variety of fruits and vegetables is important Identify different types/colors of fruits and vegetables in each color group Parents as role models for eating a variety of fruits and vegetables 25
Your Bulletin Board Message a focused message family activity colorful bilingual de colores vivos encourages parent engagement Child Health and Nutrition Program Paula James, Program Director Developed by: Mary Ann Ferrera, BSN, MA, RN Kitty Lenhart, MEd, RD Booklet available at www.cocokids.org Book Design: Abe Cruz Helping families put the pieces together Funded by the USDA s Food Stamp Program through the California Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. The Food Stamp Program provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help buy nutritious food for a better diet. For information on the Food Stamp Program, call 1-877-847-3663. 27