ChildcareAlive! E-News

February 2014

In This Issue
Active Play During Routines
Trending Now: Which Yogurt is Best for Kids?
Mandarin Oranges
Upcoming Trainings
Is Your Child Care Alive?
ChildcareAlive! is an exciting program for child care programs and preschools in Cass and Clay Counties that uses engaging on-site activities to reach parents, children, and providers/teachers with positive and consistent messages about healthy foods and active play.

 

Important Dates for ChildcareAlive! Programs: 

Serving Tasty and Healthful Snacks Training (Fargo)...... April 22nd, 2014
Resource Purchasing Request Deadline....................... June 30th, 2014

End of Spring Program (Please submit all paperwork!)....June 30th, 2014

Increasing Active Play During Routines 
How is it possible to include at least 2 hours of active play in the day?
It is recommended that preschool-age children receive at least 2 hours of physical activity during child care (60-90 minutes for toddlers). Making sure children spend this much time in active play can seem like a daunting task - but there are a few simple things you can do to integrate activity into your typical routines that will make the time fly by:

Make Transitions Active. Ask children to hop or jump from indoors to outdoors. If you read a book about certain animals, ask children to act like this animal as they move from story time to another activity (For example: act like an elephant).

Act-out Stories. Read stories that include movement or activity, and have children act out the stories during story time. Check out the resource link below for example book titles and a list of active stories.
  
Teach Nutrition Using Motions: Try telling children about the food that will be served at lunch, and have them "act out" shopping for these foods or picking these foods from a garden. For example, if apples are served, have children jump in the air and reach up high for apples in a tree.
What's Trending Now..  
What kind of yogurt is best for children?
You have probably heard a lot about Greek yogurt recently, as it's popularity has increased significantly in recent years. But does this popularity mean that it is the "best" yogurt? And is it healthy for children? What about all of the other kinds of yogurt in the grocery store? The benefits of yogurt to children is primarily the calcium and vitamin D content, as well as the protein. Greek yogurt usually has more protein than other varieties, but may also have less calcium (unless it has been added back). Bottom line: when buying yogurt for children, look for kinds that have lots of calcium and vitamin D, and less added sugars or colors. Try this yogurt dip and serve with fruit!
 
"In the last five years a mind-blowing 2,500 percent increase in sales of Greek-style yogurt have lead the charge in a diversifying yogurt section."
Eating for the Season   
Mandarin Oranges
As the bitterly cold winter season continues, it may feel like the variety of seasonal produce to choose from in the grocery store is about as low as the temps outside. One seasonal fruit you may see front and center in many grocery stores is mandarin oranges (often sold as "Cuties").

"Mandarin Orange" is actually a general category that includes many citrus fruits, including tangerines and clementines. Mandarins are a rich source of Vitamins A and C, and can be a convenient snack food because they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks! Recipe: Fruit Skewers & Yogurt Dip
 
To learn more about mandarin oranges and see more recipes, check out Fruits and Veggies More Matters. 
Professional Development Opportunities 
Easy Reach Online Courses (North Dakota & Minnesota) 
Available 24/7. Some topics include "Supporting Breastfeeding in Child Care," "Music and Movement," and "Reducing Sodium and Trans-Fat in Child Care Settings." Explore ND Training Website for more information.

Eager-to-Learn Online Training (Minnesota Counties):
Learning About Nutrition Through Activities (Parent Aware Accepted Training)

When: Wednesdays, March 5, 12, 19 & 26 from 8:00-8:45pm

Register and attend chat sessions at eagertolearn.org

 

Tipping the Scales: Promoting Nutrition & Physical Activity (Parent Aware Accepted)

When: Tuesdays, April 29, May 6, 13 & 20 from 7:00-7:45pm

Register and attend chat sessions at eagertolearn.org 

 

Mealtimes Made Healthy (Parent Aware Accepted)

When: Wednesdays, June 4, 11, 18, & 25 from 8:00-8:45pm

Register and attend chat sessions at eagertolearn.org

 

More Minnesota Training information: www.mnstreams.org