- About
- Environmental Standards
- Getting Other Staff on Board
- Articles, Emails, and Handouts
- Unit 1: Fruits and Vegetables
- Unit 2: Get Moving
- Unit 3: Be Sugar Smart
- Unit 4: Go for Good Fat
- Unit 5: Go for Whole Grains
- Unit 6: Super Snacks
- Unit 7: Fruits and Veggies Mix it Up
- Unit 8: Tune Out TV
- Unit 9: Play Hard
- Unit 10: Hydration
- Unit 11: Finale
- Recipe Packet
- Complete Curriculum
Connect With Parents!
Key Messages for Parents
- Kids should get vigorous activity (that make them breathe hard or sweat) at least 3 times a week.
- Vigorous activities build strength and endurance and are good for the heart and bones.
- Be a good role model and make time for vigorous physical activity.
Parent Communication Options
It is important to engage parents on a regular basis in a variety of ways. Here are some ways that you can engage parents at afterschool:
- Have a conversation with parents at pick up
- Create a bulletin board with the key messages from each Food & Fun unit
- Involve parents in daily physical activities and snack time
- Hold regularly scheduled events each month
- Train for a 5k run! Find a 5k fun-run in your area and start training! Schedule a weekly run with families, and encourage running on other days of the week as well. Make it an annual event for families to participate in!
- Family field trip. Take a field trip to your local YMCA to use the gym equipment, swim in the pool, or participate in a class the Y might be offering for families to do together!
Refer to the Parent Communications document, Newsletter Article, and Parent Handout to reinforce the messages in this unit of Food & Fun. All three are available in Spanish and English, and the Handout is available in Chinese.
- Parent Communications: Ideas for parent engagement, as well as a newsletter, "Get Moving! Feel Great!" and email message, "Healthy Habits Power Tips: Get Moving!" to distribute to parents.
- Newsletter Article: The formatted version of the parent Newsletter
- Parent Handout: "Activate your Family!". Send this handout home in a mailing, insert it into your next newsletter, or have copies available for pick-up at your program's sign-out area.