Michelle Obama, in promoting her Let's Move! Child Care program has joined forces with The Partnership for a Healthier America to encourage child care centers to commit to keeping kids moving, announced these practical guidelines for all those with kids, or who help care for them.
-Physical Activity: Provide 1-2 hours of physical activity throughout the day, including outside play when possible.
-Screen Time: No screen time for children under two years. For children age two and older, strive to limit screen time to no more than 30 minutes per week during child care, and work with parents and caregivers to ensure children have no more than 1-2 hours of quality screen time per day, the amount recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
-Food: Serve fruits or vegetables at every meal, eat meals family-style when possible, and no fried foods.
The Partnership for a Healthier America is working alongside the federal government to build target industry specific solutions to fighting obesity that can be measured and tracked. Rather than award grants, engage in policy discussions or develop programmatic activities, the Partnership will concentrate on mobilizing leadership from across sectors and at every level to take action that can have a significant impact on organizational goals.
The threat of childhood obesity is real, and will remain until action is taken, says their website. The Let's Move campaign has gotten us started; now the Partnership is ready to help mobilize the nation to curb childhood obesity within a generation.