EARLY CARE PROVIDERS

BE A HEALTHY ROLE MODEL:

• Eat healthy foods. 
• Limit use of handheld devices.
• Participate in physical activity.
• Drink water.

GET STARTED WITH 5-2-1-0:

Early care sites, including in-home care providers and child care centers, are invited to sign up as a 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! Registered Site and join an important network of sectors working towards healthier environments where young Iowans live, learn and play. 

5-2-1-0 ACTION GUIDE:

The 5-2-1-0 Action Guide will walk your early care site through the steps to implement 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count!

FACT SHEETS & ACTIVITIES:

These resources are sorted by the 10 Strategies of Success and their corresponding Action Items (from the 5-2-1-0 Early Care Registration survey):

Strategy 1: Limit unhealthy choices for snacks and celebrations, while providing healthy choices

• Our program has implemented a celebration policy for children and families.
  • Why this Matters: Limit Unhealthy Choices for Snacks and celebrations
  • Resources for Healthy & Active Parties (Action for Healthy Kids)
  • Healthy Party Sign-up Sheet
  • Tip Sheet: Healthy Birthdays, Celebrations and Family Events
  • Lessons, Snacks and Activities for Every Holiday Celebration

• Our program has implemented a healthy snack policy.
  • Why this Matters: Limit Unhealthy Choices for Snacks and celebrations
  • Tips to Eat 5 Fruits and Veggies Every Day
  • Guide: Feeding Toddlers and Preschoolers
  • Feeding infants
  • Kid-friendly Recipes to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables (English/Spanish)
  • Activity Sheet: Fill up on Fruits and Vegetables!
  • Healthy Snack Sheet (Cedar Rapids Community School District)
  • Guide: School Snacks

• Our program has implemented a staff celebration policy.
  • Why this Matters: Limit Unhealthy Choices for Snacks and celebrations
  • Healthy Party Sign-up Sheet

• Our program offers taste-testing and food demonstrations of non-processed, healthy foods on a recurring basis.
  • How to Conduct Taste Tests
  • Fruit and Vegetable Tasting Resources

• Our program offers healthy food or nonfood items for fundraisers.
  • Best Practices for Healthy Fundraisers

Strategy 2: Limit or eliminate sugary drinks - provide water

• Our program offers sugary drinks.
  • Why this Matters: Limit or Eliminate Sugary Drinks
  • Is it Healthy? Juice as a Treat
  • Guide: Best Drinks for Young Children

• Our program allows access to fresh drinking water at all times.
  • Fact Sheet: Water is Fuel for your Body
  • How to Make Water More Fun(English/Spanish)
  • Activity Sheet: Drink more water!

Strategy 3: Prohibit the use of food as a reward

• Our program prohibits the use of food as a reward.
  • Tip Sheet: Healthy Non-Food Rewards
  • Resources: Healthy & Active Non-Food Rewards
  • Alternatives to Food as a Reward

Strategy 4: Provide opportunities to get physical activity every day

• Our program provides an opportunity for children to be physically active every day.
  • Tip Sheet: Move an Hour Every Day!
  • Tip Sheet: Make Physical Play Part of Every Day!
  • Tip Sheet: Take your Play Outside!
  • Tip Sheet: Adapt Physical Activity to be More Inclusive
  • Tips and Games to Get Moving!(English/Spanish)
  • Activity Sheet: Make time for play every day!

• Our program provides physical activity opportunities during times of inclement weather.
  • Go Noodle!
  • Stories in Motion: Indoor Physical Activity Breaks with Stories

• Our program prohibits using physical activity as a punishment or withholding physical activity as a punishment.
  • Using Physical Activity as Punishment and/or Behavior Management
  • Alternatives to Denying Physical Activity as Punishment

• Our program promotes the use of physical activity as a reward.
  • Why use Physical Activity as a Reward?

Strategy 5: Limit recreational screen time

• Our program limits recreational screen time.
  • Why it matters: Limits on Recreational Screen Time
  • Tip Sheet: Screen Time for Children under 3
  • Tip Sheet: Setting Limits & Alternate Activities
  • Tip Sheet: Reading to Young Children
  • Guide: Helping Babies Entertain Themselves
  • Screen-Free Tips & Screen-Free Activities (English/Spanish)
  • Activity Sheet: Unplug to have More Fun!
  • Sample Screen Time Policy

• Our program allows screen time as a reward.
  • Resources coming soon!

Strategy 6: Participate in local, state and national initiatives that support healthy eating and active living

• Our program participates in local, state and/or national initiatives support healthy lifestyles.
  • A few examples:
  • Farm to Early Care and Education
  • Healthy Kids Healthy Future
  • I'm Moving I'm Learning
  • NAPSACC
  • Quality Rating System
  • How 5-2-1-0 connects to other early care wellness programs

Strategy 7: Engage community partners to help support healthy eating and active living

• Our program engages community partners in healthy living programming (e.g. local businesses, guest speakers, etc.).
  • Why it Matters: Engaging Community Partners
  • How to Implement: Engaging Community Partners
  • Sample Language to Request Partnership from Local Businesses

Strategy 8: Partner with and education families adopting and maintaining a lifestyle that supports healthy eating and active living

• Our program has sent home the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! Message to Families (i.e. electronically or print).
  • 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! Message to Families

• Our program displays information on healthy eating and physical activity.
  • 5-2-1-0 Posters and Resources

• Our program shares 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! related materials and resources with families/parents.
  • 5-2-1-0 Resources for Parents & Caregivers

• Our program incorporates healthy options at events, such as family nights.
  • Resources coming soon!

• Our program's parent handbook includes nutrition and physical activity topics.
  • Resources coming soon!

Strategy 9: Implement a staff wellness program that includes healthy eating and active living

• Our program offers professional development on physical activity and nutrition.
  • How to Hold a Healthy Staff Meeting
  • Nutrition Education & Activities for Staff

• Staff role model healthy behaviors.
  • Staff as Healthy Role Models

Strategy 10: Collaborate with Food and Nutrition Programs to offer healthy food and beverage options

• Our program participates in or follows the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal pattern guidelines.
  • Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) resources