Best Practices

Healthy Kids Challenge is pleased to share best practices by schools, youth programs, and community KidLinks™ that are truly making a healthy difference for kids! Among those represented are CIGNA sponsored schools and Kansas Kids C.A.N. programs (Kansas Kids C.A.N., a Kansas Sunflower Foundation: Healthcare for Kansas grant).

Click on your area(s) of interest to see best practice examples.

Schools

• Classroom Activities Ideas for classroom or P.E. teachers related to healthy eating and/or physical activity.
  • Hospital Staff Engage School Children with Healthy Eating and Activity Lesson
  • School Incorporates Healthy Eating Messages in Simple Classroom Lessons
  • Menu Planning Improves Students' Attitudes Toward School Meals
  • HKC Resources Aide Integration of Nutrition into PE Classes K-5
  • P.E. Teacher Sucessfully Links Healthy Eating with Physical Activity
  • School Integrates Physical Activity Into Classroom Curriculum
  • Classroom Physical Activity Benefits Learning
  • School Integrates Minutes of Motion into the Curriculum
  • Goal Setting Motivates Kids to Make Strides in P.E. Class
  • School Motivates Students to Increase Active Time
  • P.E. Experiment Increases Kids' Minutes of Motion Outside of School
  • Daily Practices Changed to Increase Students' Physical Activity
  • "Bring Back My Body to Me!" Energizer



• School-wide Ideas Collaborative actions within the school to build awareness, support, skill building activities, and behaviors for healthy eating and/or physical activity.
  • School Puts a Healthy Twist on an Existing Practice
  • School Initiates School-wide Healthy Fall Events
  • Integrating Physical Activities into Classroom Benefits Everyone
  • School Establishes Wellness Policies to Ensure Sustainability of Standards
  • Special Event Ideas Increase Minutes of Motion at School Recess
  • School Motivates Better Behavior and Physical Activity by Using Non-Food Rewards
  • After School Club Encourages Outdoor Activity During Difficult Winter Months
  • School-wide Walking Program to Increase Minutes of Motion Outside the Classroom
  • School and Health Department Team Up to Create Physical Activity Programs
  • School Food Service Manager Collaborates to Implement Healthier School Snacks
  • KidLinks Strengthen School's Recess Policies for Healthier Eating and Physical Activity
  • School Wins Student and Family Support for New Snack Policy
  • KidLink Involvement Ensures Healthy Snack and Concession School Policy
  • HKC Resources Spark District-wide Change with a Simple Bulletin Board
  • Grade School Pulls in Others to Share Its Wellness Event
  • School's First Ever Health Fair Focuses on Interactive Sessions for Kids
  • School's Bulletin Board Designs Provide Repeated Healthy Messages
  • School Uses Colorful Bulletin Boards to Build Awareness and Support for Healthy Change
  • School Motivates Additional Physical Activity from Kids
  • School Promotes Healthy Lunches with Fun Activities
  • School Featured a Fruit and Veggie Campaign
  • All-School Walking Challenge Increases Activity & Healthy Eating Skills
  • School Sets Up an Interactive Health Fair to Help Bulldogs P.A.W.S. for Health
  • School Kicks Off Healthy Change with Awareness and Team Building
  • School KidLinks Ensure a Healthy and Happy Holiday Event
  • School Motivates Kids to Set Goals for Wellness
  • Changing the School Environment
  • Physical Activity and Healthy Eating: Now an Integral Part of K-6 Curriculum



• Healthy Eating Choices Ideas for cafeteria, vending, fundraisers, and other environments to make it easier to choose healthy options.
  • School Highlights the Cafeteria as a Learning Laboratory
  • Hospital Improves Employee Wellness with Addition of Breakfast and Healthy Snack Choices

Programs

• Staff Wellness Actions taken to build staff wellness and role-modeling.
  • School Staff Wellness Improves with Health Insurance Cooperation
  • School Sees Success in Personal Wellness Plans
  • School Highlights Principal Role-modeling the Value of Healthy Choices
  • School District Initiates Staff Wellness Program
  • Employee Personal Wellness Plans
  • School Rewards Teachers Who Integrate Healthy Eating and Physical Activity into Curriculum
  • School Proves Attention to Staff Wellness Promotes Healthy Role-Modeling for Kids
  • School Uses Fun Promotions to Prompt Healthy Behaviors in Staff and Kids
  • School Staff Model Physical Fitness
  • School Staff Receive Healthy Eating Training from HKC Special Event
  • Schools Utilize HKC Action Tips For Staff and Family Wellness Promotion
  • School Models Healthy Snacks at Staff Meetings
  • Clinic Nurse Role-models Her Healthier Choices
  • Hospital-wide Events Support Staff Wellness
  • Hospital Employees Find Success with Innovative Wellness Programs
  • Hospital Staff Wellness Additions Change the Environment
  • School Begins with Staff and Families to Promote Healthy Habit Awareness
  • Motivation and Support are Keys to Healthy Employees



• Community and Parent Connections Health fair, parent involvement and other ideas to link healthy happenings in the youth program.
  • School Adds a Healthy Addition to an Existing Successful Event
  • School KidLinks Create Event to Encourage Families to Eat Healthfully and Exercise
  • School Uses a Month of Events to Challenge Families to Choose Healthier Habits
  • School Created Mascot to Promote Wellness with Families and Community
  • School Partners with Community Chefs to Stir Up a Healthy Attitude About Foods
  • Hospital Bridges the Generation Gap with Healthy Eating Activities
  • Community Partnering Increases Healthy Options for Kids
  • School Creates Healthy Links with the Community
  • Hospital and School Team Up for a Fantastic Week of Healthy Activities
  • School Recruits Community Businesses to Offer Incentives for Kids' Healthy Behaviors
  • Prime Time Program Supports Physical Activity and Healthy Eating After School
  • Interactive Booth Adds Healthy FUN to Community Health Fair
  • Community Collaboration Results in Healthy Kids Club After School
  • Community Meltdown Tries New Approach to Activity and Healthy Eating Skills



• Youth Activities Ideas for youth leaders related to healthy eating and/or physical activity.
  • MyPyramid Presentation Increases Kids' Knowledge and Skills for Identifying Healthy Foods
  • Kids Jump Into Health with Enhanced County Extension Program
  • MyPyramid Presentation Successfully Increases Kids' Skills for Identifying Healthy Foods
  • Hospital Staff Visit Aims to Improve Kids' Attitudes and Skills for a Healthy Lifestyle
  • Interactive County Extension Grant Tools Offer Kids Wellness Resources
  • Librarian Designs Healthy After School Sessions with HKC Materials and Assistance
  • More Activity and Healthier Eating Result from Health Department Interventions
  • County Extension Agent Uses HKC Resources to Impact Kids' Healthy Behaviors



• Program-wide Ideas Collaborative actions within the youth program to build awareness, support, skill building activities, and behaviors for healthy eating and/or physical activity.
  • School Links with the YMCA to Offer Healthy After School Activities
  • Bigs and Littles Take Mentoring a Step Further with Active Play
  • Interactive Pyramid Stations Motivate Kids to Change Behavior
  • County Health Department Adds Healthy Snacks and Activity to Existing Event
  • Library includes Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Existing Programs
  • After School Adventure Club Builds Kids' Awareness to Choose Healthier Behaviors
  • Library Overflows with Wellness Activities for All Ages
  • Library Gets Adults and Kids Discussing Healthier Lifestyles
  • Hospital and BBBS Organization Collaborate for a Healthy Community Event
  • Librarian Links Literacy with Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Messages
  • Health Department Offers Resources for Check-out to the Community
  • Hospital Week Promotes Fruit and Vegetable Intake
  • Hospital Week Promotes Staff and Family Wellness
  • Hospital Links with Grocery Store and Drugstore for a Healthy Week of Activities
  • Healthy Eating Added to After School Activities
  • Community Support for Healthy Change
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters CAN
  • Sustainable Actions Key to Library's Long-term Healthy Success