Last month I was invited to attend to an event at the White House held by the First Lady Michelle Obama where we had a conversation about our childrens’ nation health. It was an amazing experience to be there and I also learned a lot about her program Let’s move!
Before attending to this event I had heard about Let’s Move!, mostly about this program trying to change the food served in schools cafeterias. I learned this day that Let’s Move! is a lot more than that and it’s made up of several different programs. A lot of parents are not aware of these programs and they are so beneficial for our kids. That’s why today I want to share an overview of each program, so you, as a parent, can inquire about starting these initiatives in your kid’s school. The resources are there and we should use them.
Let’s Move! has launched the following programs to work in alignment with their overall goals:
Let’s Move! Active Schools:
I love this initiative! It gives schools and teachers the resources so they can provide kids with 60 minutes of psychical activity daily. Psychical activity is so important in our daily lives, not only to stay healthy but it’s been proven that it helps you concentrate better in the classroom. To date, over 17000 schools serving over 10 million kids have enrolled.
You can learn more about this program here. If your kid’s schools isn’t enrolled in this program reach out to the principal and let them know this is available.
Let’s Move! Child care:
It’s a nationwide program to empower daycare and early education providers to make healthy changes in kids. It promotes: increasing psychical activity, reducing screen time, offering healthy beverages, serving healthy food and supporting infant feeding. Currently, more than 16000 childcare providers serving more than 1.6 million children have committed to these goals.
You can learn more about this program here. If you’re daycare is not enrolled, share this site with them. Our children’s health begins from the day they’re born.
Let’s Move! Cities, town and Counties:
This program helps elected officials to implement policies to prevent childhood obesity. To date more than 500 local officials representing more than 80 million people are committed to this initiative.
You can learn more about this initiative here and if you’re elected official is not on board yet, reach out to them. Our children’s future it’s what’s at stake here.
Let’s Move! Salad bars to schools:
This program’s goal is to have a salad bar in every school. I personally love this initiative because I love salads and I have seen the effects of me loving them on my kids. My toddler now loves to eat salads because she sees me eating them daily and has easy access to them. To date more than 4000 salad bars have been installed in schools, reaching more than 2 million kids.
Want your school to have a salad bar? Learn more about it here.
Let’s Move! in Indian country:
This initiative seeks to raise the next generation of healthy American Indian and Alaska Native kids by working together with Tribal governments, Urban Indian Centers, private businesses, youth leaders and non-profit organizations. To date more than 400 partners have committed to this program.
You can learn more about this program here.
Let’s Move! Faith and Communities:
This program encourages faith-base communities to promote wellness for kids and their families and empowers them to improve the health of kids. To date, nearly 3000 faith and community leaders have been certified by this program.
Encourage your leaders to be part of this program by sharing this link with them.
Let’s Move! Outside:
This initiative was created to incentivize families to take advantage of the great outdoors. This is one of our favorite activities – our toddler really enjoys hiking and being in nature. To date, there are about 200 Junior Range programs in the country. You can learn more about this here.
This program is also behind Every Kid in a Park, an initiative that allows fourth graders and their families to obtains a free pass to enter more than 2000 federally managed land and water parks for an entire year. It is important to connect our kids to nature, especially when now a day we’re living our lives mostly indoors. Take advantage of this initiative and request your free pass here!
Let’s Move! Museums and gardens:
Nearly 700 museums and gardens have committed to inspire healthy habits in kids by using interactive exhibits, outdoor spaces, gardens and programs to encourage families to make healthy choices and increase physical activity.
Learn more about this initiative led by the Institute of Museum and Library Services here.
Let’s Read! Let’s Move!
This program tries to increase awareness of the importance of learning, nutrition and physical activity through reading and by putting together monthly events with celebrities and prominent figures to read and engage with children about healthier lifestyle choices.
Get involved and spread the word here.
Chefs move to schools
This initiative encourages chefs to volunteer in schools and partner with school staff to teach new culinary techniques and recipes for delicious and healthy meals in hopes to make nutrition fun and appealing to kids.
Find a volunteer chef near you and learn more about the program here.
You can find what Let’s Move! programs are already happening near you but remember you can also request to have any of these programs in your area. Visit the Let’s Move! site and stay up-to-date with the efforts of this initiative by following them on Facebook and twitter and follow our First Lady, Michelle Obama on her twitter and her instagram account.
Is your kid’s school involve with a Let’s Move! program? I would love to hear your experience and thoughts on it. Leave a comment down below.
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