Nutrition and Physical Activity: Child Care Programs
Child care providers and teachers play a key role in helping young children establish healthy eating and physical activity habits for a lifetime. The following nutrition and physical activity services and resources can help you put children on a path to a healthy life.
Regulations and Best Practices at Child Care Centers
Nutrition and Physical Activity Curricula
- Growing Healthy Children (PDF): Teachers of preschool-aged children can use this curriculum to teach nutrition lessons and cooking activities in the classroom and with adult caregivers.
Visual Aids:
- Eat Well Play Hard in Child Care Settings for Pre-K through 1st Grade (PDF): Teachers of pre-K through 1st grade can use this curriculum to teach hands-on nutrition lessons.
- Eating Healthy for Success (PDF): Pre-K, kindergarten and 1st grade teachers can use this curriculum to encourage the exploration of healthy foods while integrating New York State Next Generation learning standards. It consists of 35 fun lessons that can be taught throughout the school year.
- Move-to-Improve Early Childhood curriculum: Move-to-Improve Early Childhood curriculum offers a comprehensive and engaging way to help teachers integrate physical activity into all areas of classroom academics. It is designed to help child care centers and preschools reach the NYC Health Code-mandated 30 minutes of structured physical activity per day.
Eat Well Play Hard Champion Initiative
Child care centers that participate in the CACFP may be eligible to join the Eat Well Play Hard Champion Initiative. The initiative provides:
- Hands-on classes for children and families.
- Training, tool kits and technical assistance for staff to enhance and sustain a healthy center environment.
- Mentoring for teachers to conduct nutrition education in the classroom.
For more information, including how to find out if your center is eligible, email ewph@health.nyc.gov.
E-Newsletter
Child care centers can sign up to receive the e-newsletter "Eat Healthy, Be Active: Newsletter for Group Childcare Centers". It provides information and resources to help create and sustain a healthy environment for children, families and staff.
Additional Resources
More information