HEALTHY KIDS
ARE HAPPY KIDS

GOAL:

Reduce Screen Time

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Best Practices

• Limit screen time to 30 minutes a week or less for preschoolers during child care.
• Screen time for toddlers and babies should be limited to four times or less a year, preferably none, in child care.
• Provide media literacy education to parents of preschoolers at least twice a year.

Featured Resources

• Learn about how to organize a “Screen-Free Week” in your school.
• The policy brief Early Learning and Use of Technology provides guiding principles on the use of technology by young children.

GOAL:

Provide Healthy Beverages

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Best Practices

• Drinking water should be readily available and offered throughout the day in indoor and outdoor areas.
• Children two years and older should be served skim or non-fat milk.
• 100% fruit juice should be limited to no more than 4-6 oz per day.
• Sugary drinks (sports drinks, sweet tea, soda) should never be offered.

Featured Resources

• Read Potter the Otter (e-book in English and Spanish) to your children about an otter who loves water.
• The Use and Misuse of Fruit Juice in Pediatrics helps providers learn about the appropriate amount of juice for young children.

GOAL:

Increase Physical Activity

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Best Practices

• Preschoolers need two or more hours of active play time every day.
• Toddlers should have at least an hour of active play time each day.
• Babies should have short periods of “tummy time” every day.

Featured Resources

• The Get Moving Today Calendar is a start-anytime, reusable calendar which has fun, simple physical activities to do everyday with preschoolers.
• Help kids move more in your program with the Best Practices for Physical Activity Guide  (PDF) (also available in Spanish).

GOAL:

Improve Food Choices

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Best Practices

• A fruit or vegetable should be served to toddlers and preschoolers at every meal.
• Chips, french fries and other fried potatoes should be offered once a month or less.
• Chicken nuggets, fish sticks and fried meats should be offered once a month or less.
• All meals to preschoolers should be served family-style.

Featured Resources

• One in five U.S. families does not have access at all times to enough food. You can help Children Facing Food Insecurity and support these families in small ways.
• CACFP and School Meal Program updated meal pattern requirements.

GOAL:

Support Breast Feeding

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Best Practice

• Breastfeeding mothers should be provided a private area for breastfeeding or pumping.

Featured Resources

• Learn how Early College High School Child Care Center turned a closet into an inviting private space for mothers to breastfeed.
• Check out Project Breastfeeding: A dynamic, engaging and thought-provoking group which aims to educate men and empower women.