Activities to do with children outdoors (SDGFP)

Children's snacks: 10 tips for healthier snacking (Mayo Clinic)

Fruits and veggies at preschool

Healthy weight — it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle! - tips to help children maintain a healthy weight.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences kids' pages - games activities, songs, brain teasers, jokes and more.

You're It. Get Fit! President's Challenge

Child Care

Fit From the Start Works

The results of the first two years of Fit From the Start implementation in South Dakota are in and the results are positive:

• Access to vegetables for children 2-5 years of age in child care facilities improved from 26% to 33%
• Opportunities for physical activity for 2-5 year olds in child care increased from 42% to 70%, and
• Child care providers who decreased access to TV viewing for 2-5 year olds in child care increased from 48% to 60%

For summary report, click here.

Classes for child care providers are currently being held. Check with your local Early Childhood Enrichment Center for one in your area.

Improvements in Nutrition and Physical Activity in South Dakota Child Care Facilities —- the July 2010 follow-up survey by the University of South Dakota of 600 child care providers in the state.

Nutrition and Physical Activity Study — the 2007 University of South Dakota report of focus groups with child care providers and parents and telephone survey of 600 providers in the state.

Parent Survey Report — the 2008 University of South Dakota report of a telephone survey of 658 parents of preschoolers in child care.

Physical Activity Guidelines
for Children from Birth to Age 5

The National Association  for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) states all children from birth to age 5 should engage daily in physical activity that promotes movement skillfulness and foundations of health-related fitness. Several new resources have been developed to assist parents and caregivers with practical information on how to assist kids meet this standard.  Learn more  

SD Physical Activity and Healthy Snack Cards

SD Nutrition and Physical Activity Policy and Best Practices

Nutrition for infants and children - general information from the American Dietetic Association.

50 ways to get kids hooked on the outdoors

Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care - a practice-based intervention designed to enhance policies, practices and environments in child care.

Empowering Youth with Nutrition and Physical Activity - modules created to assist middles and high school teachers, mentors, and caregivers of youth in after school and other youth programs.

Games for preschoolers

Games for toddlers

Group games for school age kids

USDA child care resource list