Three women on the faculty of the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension have been presented the Priester Health Award from the United States Department of Agriculture. The award recognizes innovative health education programs.
Teresa Byington, Anne Lindsay, and Madeline Sigman-Grant were honored for their All 4 Kids: Healthy, Happy, Active Fit educational program which seeks to encourage preschool students to adapt healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle.
All 4 Kids was launched in 2007. Extension educators go into child care centers reaching lower-income families twice a week for 30 minutes at a time and teach a curriculum to 3- to 5-year-olds and their teachers. Parents attend family activity nights three times during the course of the program and preschool teachers learn ways to extend the All 4 Kids information into their daily curriculum during training sessions throughout the program.
The All 4 Kids curriculum encourages children to eat fruits and vegetables every day and to choose healthy snacks. Children learn to eat when they are hungry and to stop when they are full, and they learn how physical activity will keep their hearts, muscles and bones strong. A backpack is sent home once a week with activities the child can share with the rest of the family. During family activity nights, which are held at the child care centers, the parents and children try new foods and dance together.