The Cultural Competence Improvement Tool(CCIT) deals with the issue of obesity in children of color. The site talks about how to find a health weight, ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the chances of certain diseases and other health problems. It talks about how overweight and obesity are measured, the consequences of childhood obesity, and the risk factors of obesity-eating and child feeding behaviors, physical activity, screen time, family history, sleeping patterns, socioeconomic status, and neighborhood environment. They want to get people in different areas to get involved in making our children healthy. So taking on the issue of how to address the risk, promote healthy physical, psychological, socio-emotional, and cognitive development.
Childhood obesity is on the increase especially among children of color, and they are taking on the issue in a culturally and linguistically sensitive way. Acknowledging the fact that if you appeal to the culture it is more likely to have an impact, they are using a strenghts-based approach.
The information is presented in an informative way and takes on the issues of money(economists), health issues and how it affects the body(neurosciences), programs that can use the program like after-school, and in the development of healthy school age children, also to enhance any existing health and nutrition curriculum.
Any issue that we have may be approached in different ways so that it can help in the development of our nation and the development of our children. The way that mainstream may see an issue may not be the way to approach a culturally diverse world. I don't see this issue in a new way, but I am happy to see it dealt in a way that can be seen as applying to a different way.
I think childhood obesity is something we do need to address in the early childhood field. I think it is important that we set good examples for children and families by serving healthy foods to children in care and model healthy eating. I also think planning activities that encourage movement is vital. In our community for school aged children we have a program called Girls on the Run. Teachers and education staff work with girls to accomplish a three mile run during the spring. They slowly work on building stamina and after the 8 week training the girls and staff run 3 miles as a group.
ReplyDeleteJosie
I believe policy makers are beginning to understand this issue as well. With national public awareness campaign's like, "Let's Move!" led by our First Lady, we are beginning to understand the importance of supporting the whole child. Ultimately this has long lasting, far reaching and cost effective consequences for our global society.
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