What Is A Gold Sneaker Facility?

What does it mean to be a Gold Sneaker Facility?

 The Gold Sneaker Initiative was developed to enhance policy related to physical activity and nutrition within licensed child care facilities across Tennessee.

Here is our Gold Sneaker Initiative board. As you walk into our building you can find all of the 

facts about Gold Sneaker and how to serve a great plate for your growing child. The Academy is proud to be one of the few preschools in Tennessee that jumped on board with this great initiative.

Listed below are the policies that The Academy follows:

Physical Activity Policy

 Policy 1.1: Children ages 12 months or older attending a full day program shall be offered at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day, either indoors or outdoors.  Children attending less than a full day program shall be offered a proportional amount of such activities.  For children ages three and older, this physical activity must be a balance of free play, teacher-directed activities, and music and movement.  This must be documented in the daily schedule and on lesson plan forms.

Policy 1.2: Viewing of television, videos and other visual recordings shall be limited to no more than 60 minutes per day of educational programs or programs that actively engage child movement.  Children attending less than a full day program shall be limited to a proportionate amount of such viewing.  This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies.

Policy 1.3: Children shall not be allowed to remain sedentary or to sit passively for more than 60 minutes continuously, except for scheduled rest or nap time.  This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies.

Policy 1.4: Child care facilities must ensure physical activity is a positive experience for children and is never used negatively or to control behavior.  This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies.

Nutrition Policy 

Nutrition standards will be enhanced by including additional nutrition policies that must be addressed in order to earn Gold Sneaker recognition:

Policy 1.5: Ensure appropriate infant and child feeding patterns, including breastfeeding.  Staff will be sensitive to breastfeeding mothers and infants, and their eating patterns.  Each infant will have a feeding plan on file, which is completed by the parent/parents and facility as a team to address their unique feeding patterns.

Policy 1.6: Ensure appropriate infant and child feeding patterns, including adequate time for meal consumption.  Adequate time for meals and snacks will be allowed for all children, and will be included in classroom schedules.

Policy 1.7: Ensure appropriate infant and child feeding patterns, including appropriate portion sizes.  Appropriate portion sizes will be assured through staff training and adherence to portion sizes as found in child care licensing regulations.

Policy 1.8: All eating opportunities should consist of a respect for the child and promoting a positive attitude toward food.  Food shall never be used as rewards for children.  This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies.

 Tobacco Policy

In order to ensure a healthy environment for all children the following tobacco policy must be adopted by the facility to earn Gold Sneaker recognition:  

Policy 1.9 Child care facility campus shall be tobacco free.  This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies.

January is our Fitness Fanatics month! 

Here at The Academy of Gateway we are

promoting healthy and active lifestyles for 2015.

We hope everyone had a great New Year's!

For more information about Gold Sneaker Initiative, please visit: http://health.state.tn.us/Goldsneaker/index.htm

For more information about The Academy Child Development, please visit: http://www.academychilddevelopment.com/