HAB45 gets recognition for our work in Play!

Posted on April 23, 2012 by tonya

Last week, Kaboom! recognized our awesome work in their Community Highlight section of the Map of Play website (pictured below).

Kaboom! ‘s Map of Play is an online user-generated list of local parks and play spaces. Healthy & Active Before 5 with the help of local parents has entered information for the City of Pittsburg. By entering Pittsburg, CA into the ‘near’ field,  you can find the location of local parks, details about  play equipment, amenities, transportation and even restrooms!

In the Map of Play on Kaboom!'s website, enter "Pittsburg, CA" into the 'near' field to find a list of local play spaces.

We couldn’t have done it without help. Parent members of the East County Regional Group (sponsored by First 5 Contra Costa) have been visiting  Pittsburg parks with their families and sharing their opinions with us. In addition to the new and better web listings, we plan to have a paper brochure for those without easy access to the internet. The brochures will be distributed to families at  child care homes, local clinics and community centers.

ECRG parents gather at Ambrose Community Center after the first park assessment session.

Visit Kaboom! Map of Play to see our Community Highlight which will be up for the rest of the week. Also check out the local parks in your area. You can even download  a mobile phone app, Playgrounds! which uses your smart phone’s GPS or a zip code to locate playgrounds near you.

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Building Blocks for Kids helps build new healthy habits.

Posted on April 23, 2012 by tonya

Building Blocks for Kids (BBK) is training young appetites towards healthy eating by adopting a new nutrition  policy for their Preschool Enrichment Program.

Established in 2005, Building Blocks for Kids supports the development of healthy children and self – sufficiency of families that live in the  Iron Triangle neighborhood of Richmond, California. The collaborative of local social service and non-profit agencies (like YMCA, POGO Park and Healthy and Active Before 5) and residents gather to share their individual expertise while at the same time receive training in order to best serve the needs of the children and families within the Iron Triangle.

One such program, BBK’s Preschool Enrichment Program (PREP) provides child care for parents enrolled in classes (like GED or ESL) at the Nevin Community Center. PREP strives to emulate the preschool experience by providing their 66 enrolled young students free play, snack time, and a curriculum of math, science and the arts.

The children of BBK's Preschool Enrichment Program get at least 20 minutes of free play every morning.

Before working with Healthy & Active Before 5, PREP served beverages like Juicy Juice and other not-so-healthy foods during their morning snack time. Lakisha Hill, Preschool Enrichment Program’s Coordinator says she wanted to make changes and adopt a new healthy food policy to follow BBK’s mission of developing healthy children.

Now, PREP children are no longer being served sugar sweetened beverages and instead get fresh tap water along with whole fruit slices. They also will be served low-calorie and whole grain snacks in the morning and along with 1% plain milk. (Download Nutrition Policy, 89 kb)

Although a few children still ask for juice, many are open to trying new things and are eating fruits that they haven’t tried before. BBK staff feel good about giving the children in their program a healthy start. Yay!

Congratulations to BBK’s Preschool Education Program on their commitment towards developing healthy children!

For more information on BBK visit their website: http://www.bbk-richmond.org and be like us… become a fan of their Facebook Page: Building Blocks for Kids Collaborative Facebook

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Pogo Park brings new life to Elm Playlot in Richmond

Posted on January 24, 2012 by tonya

“A children’s park gives an onlooker the impression of complete and absolute happiness prevailing in the atmosphere and environment.”

- – The importance of a Children’s Park (via Preserve Articles)

HAB45 Leadership Council member, Toody Maher (Pogo Park) is sprucing up the Elm Playlot to encourage movement and play and provide a safe and clean place for Richmond children to grow.

In November 2010, Pogo Park and the city of Richmond won a two-million dollar grant from the State to revitalize Elm Playlot. Plans for the park include a rock cave, tot lot with water and sand, a trike path, restrooms and a taco stand that serves healthy snacks to the community.

There will also be a special space for breastfeeding! Pogo Park is a brand new recipient of a Healthy and Active Before 5 “Pledge the Practice. Pass the Policy” mini-grant. Funds from the mini-grant will go towards a wide seat rocking chair, making a comfortable space for mothers to breastfeed.  Download a copy of Pogo Park’s new Movement and Play Policy (pdf – 93 kb).

Pogo Park has already started with some of their plans..

  • Placed a safety fence around the lot making it possible for kids to kick around a ball without worrying about it bouncing in the street.
  • With a grant from First 5 Contra Costa, they built a hillside slide where you can find children running up the hill and sliding down, over and over again..
  • A metal shipping container was restored and painted by a local muralist, that is now being used as an on-site office that stores play equipment. Team members are present at the park daily to make sure it stays clean and safe.

Coming soon: Elm Playlot “February Fest”… bring your children to play at the pop-up park and watch them dance on the outdoor stage. Target gift cards go the child with the most groovy moves! For more information about date and times contact  Toody Maher via website www.pogopark.org.

Congratulations to Toody and Pogo Park for your awesome work!

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Institute of Medicine Weighs in on Early Childhood Obesity Prevention

Posted on January 24, 2012 by admin
by Diane Dooley MD

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has had a long history of guiding national health policy in critically important health issues.  In 2010, they brought together experts in early childhood obesity to propose policies to prevent early childhood obesity.  As their report, Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Policies states,  “efforts to prevent childhood obesity must begin before children ever enter the school system.”

Using the best evidence available, they conclude that significant efforts should be made to assess risks for obesity in young children, increase physical activity, promote healthy eating and reducing marketing and screen time for young children.

In 2007, when Healthy and Active Before 5 was conceived, local experts used evidence available at that time to develop the Healthy and Active Before 5 Action Plan.  The recent Institute of Medicine report supports the validity of our action plan, however additional evidence gives us a few more thoughts to consider in future initiatives:

-       Childcare environments are critically important. The IOM report repeatedly emphasizes the importance of promoting healthy environments in child care settings, from the promotion of active play to adopting healthy eating practices to limiting sedentary activities.  Using the best evidence available, the committee concludes mandatory regulation through State and local laws and regulations as a necessary next step to protecting children in childcare. (Physical Activity pages 59-84, Healthy Eating pages 85-118)

-       Reduce the use of seats and strollers. Their recommendations support efforts to “decrease sedentary behavior in young children”.  They cite recent evidence that shows the harmful effects of prolonged use of strollers, car seats and restricted environments on both the healthy weight of a child, as well as the development of motor milestones. (Reduce Sedentary Behavior pages 70 – 73)

-       Pay attention to healthy sleep habits. The Committee draws our attention to the evolving evidence on the importance of getting at least 12 hours of sleep daily for children less than 2 years to prevent early childhood obesity. Although we don’t understand all of the evidence, they emphasize that restful sleep environments and sleep-promoting practices such as regular nap times should be considered healthy habits for all. (Sleep pages 135-148)

The executive committee for HAB45 will review this information, along with ongoing data about obesity rates at our upcoming planning retreat.  For more information on this report, you can read it on line at: http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Early-Childhood-Obesity-Prevention-Policies.aspx

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