YW C.H.A.M.P.S. or Children Health And Movement Program Series, consists of weekly nutrition education, stress reduction techniques, mindfulness and physical education programming.
The goal of this program series is to increase preschoolers knowledge and attitudes about healthy eating and movement. Each weekly session consists of 30 minutes of physical activity and 15 minutes of nutrition education.
YW C.H.A.M.P.S. is a part of YWCA Tri-County Area’s Youth Empowerment Program, a multi-faceted initiative to help youth build the skills, habits, and knowledge needed for success in school and beyond.
What curriculum is utilized for YW C.H.A.M.P.S. ?
Childlight Yoga was founded in 2005 by Lisa Flynn.
Lisa turned to yoga as a life-saving practiced in her college years. She believes that yoga and mindfulness can heal the body and soul.
A few years later… as a new mother, Lisa had no luck finding a yoga program for her children. She founded Childlight Yoga and currently serves as a curriculum consultant, author of several program manuals related to yoga for children, and developed multiple yoga teacher trainings which are now shared nationally.
Lisa is a respected leader and collaborator in the school yoga and mindfulness movement and greater kids’ yoga community internationally.
YW3CA uses multiple of Childlight Yoga’s curricula in the Children Health And Movement Program Series.
It’s Not About the Broccoli by Dina Rose, PhD is used in YW C.H.A.M.P.S. nutrition education.
Dr. Rose conducted a plethora of research prior to writing her book. This included systematically interviewing and observing parents. Her research revealed that “when parents focus too intensely on nutrition it is easy to inadvertently teach poor eating habits.”
It is imperative to teach children with a focus on habits, and in turn they will begin eating healthier foods. YW C.H.A.M.P.S. encourages healthy eating by exposing preschoolers to healthy habits instead of the traditional nutrition education.
Spark Early Childhood Curriculum Program was created for Early Childhood Education Centers across the country.
It was tested and originated in Memphis City Schools. This curriculum used in YW C.H.A.M.P.S. also contains teacher trainings and content-matched equipment packs. With a focus on students’ moderate to vigorous activity level – YW C.H.A.M.P.S. incorporates mindfulness and physical education programming throughout each session.
According to Early Childhood Research Quarterly, preschool children do not engage in sufficient physical activity. We work every day to improve this for our community and the children we serve every day.
Through the use of this curriculum we are able to bring energetic activities which help to develop and enhance fine motor and school readiness skills in young children preparing for Kindergarten.
As part of our nutrition education, our team uses First Bite – a book that draws on the latest research from food psychologists, neuroscientists, and nutritionists.
First Bite by award-winning food writer Bee Wilson reveals that our food habits are shaped by multiple factors. These factors include family, culture, memory, gender, hunger, and love.
Wilson brilliantly depicts the eating habits found across the globe, and brings home what these facts can teach Americans about healthy eating. Wilson argues that both adults and children have immense potential for learning new habits.
YW C.H.A.M.P.S. provides families with healthy recipes that can be easily replicated at home, along with healthy habits that are beneficial to preschool children and their family.
2018 Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Needs Assessment Report
This report is conducted by Public Health Management Corporation and is developed using a data and partnership driven approach, multiple data sources, and engagement from a variety of community constituents.
According to PAHWF's 2018 Report
Causes of poor nutrition, particularly among low-income residents, include cost, lack of time to prepare healthy meals, reliance on processed foods, smaller kitchen spaces, and limited knowledge of good nutrition and healthy cooking skills.
Less than 26% of Tri-County adults were consuming the recommended 4 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
More than half (55%) of Pottstown adults consume sugary sweetened beverages a few times a week or month.
About one third of children ages 6 and older in the Tri-County Area (35%) are considered overweight or obese based on their Body Mass Index. More specifically, 15% of Tri-County children ages 6 and over are obese and 20% are overweight.
12% of Tri-County children exercise less than 3 times per week for 30 minutes or more, 69% between 3-7 times per week, and 19% more than 7 times per week.
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