Network for a Healthy California

—Power Play! Campaign

Community Youth Organization

Idea & Resource Kit

Summary of Activities

*PA* denotes a physically active game or activity

Getting Started…Introducing Kids to Fruits, Vegetables and Physical Activity
Power Bingo - Children learn about each other’s nutrition and physical activity habits through a bingo-style game.
How Much Do I Need? - Children learn the recommended cups of fruits and vegetables and minutes of physical activity they should get every day. They also learn to estimate what cups and ½ cups of fruits and vegetables look like.
Warm Up for Power *PA* - Children learn warm-up exercises.
Power Tag *PA* - Children try to avoid being tagged by squatting and saying the name of a fruit, vegetable, or type of power play.
Memory Ball *PA* - In small groups, children name a fruit, vegetable, or type of power play as they toss the ball to another child.
Fruit and Vegetable Power…More about Fruits and Vegetables
Fruit and Vegetable Name Game - Children name as many fruits and vegetables as they can, and discuss each fruit or vegetable, its characteristics, and how it can be prepared.
Rainbow Mysteries - Children complete fruit and vegetable riddles and place fruits and vegetables in the appropriate color group.
Grab the Flag *PA* - Children try to grabflags from each other. Those who have had their flags pulled must name one fruit or vegetable or one type of power play to rejoin the activity.
Color Tag *PA* - Children move from one color station to another while avoiding being tagged. The color stations are safe zones where children cannot be tagged.
Memory Movement *PA* - Children name fruits and vegetables while being led through various physical activity movements.
Preparation Power…Learning to Make and Grow Fruits and Vegetables
Fixin’ Fruits & Veggies - Children brainstorm ways of preparing fruits and vegetables.
Grow Your Own - Children learn how to grow vegetables by planting seeds or seedlings and learning how to care for them.
Taste it! - Children taste a variety of fruits and/or vegetables with healthy dips.
Community Power…Influences and Influencing Others
Advertising Power - Children learn about advertising techniques, then write creative jingles or slogans that promote eating more fruits and vegetables or getting more power play.
Movin’ and Groovin’ *PA* - Children arrange movement to the advertising jingle or slogan that they developed in Activity 14: Advertising Power to promote eating more fruits and vegetables or getting more power play.
Powerful Art - Children create art projects that illustrate what they have learned from the Network for a Healthy California—Power Play! Campaign activities and bring their art projects home to share with their families.
Field Trip Power - Children learn about the availability of fruits and vegetables and/or opportunities for power play in their community.
Challenge Power…Doing our Best!
Power Up Challenge - Children set personal goals to eat more fruits and vegetables and get more power play.
Hoop Challenge *PA* - In small groups, children try to move a hula hoop around the circle from one person to the next while linking hands and not letting go.
Fitness Circuit Challenge *PA* - Children move through fitness stations and learn easy fitness exercises that they can do anywhere with minimal supplies.


Overview

1.  The Network for a Healthy California—Power Play! Campaign is a statewide social marketing campaign that encourages 9- to 11-year-old children to eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables and be physically active for 60 minutes every day.

2.  The Community Youth Organization Idea & Resource Kit contains 20 activities on nutrition and physical activity for community youth organizations. All activities were designed for use with children of mixed ages, from 5-11 years old, with older children helping younger children when necessary. However, modified directions are provided for select activities for those who work with younger children, ages 5-8 years.

3.  A new feature of the Kit is the inclusion of physically active games and activities.

4.  The Community Youth Organization Idea & Resource Kit is FREE to youth organizations serving low-income children.

5.  The Community Youth Organization Idea & Resource Kit activities are in a consistent, easy-to-follow format. Each activity contains the following sections: Activity Time, Prep Time, READY, SET, GO, GO FARTHER, and BRING IT HOME.

6.  The activities in the Community Youth Organization Idea & Resource Kit require very little prep time and most activities can be completed in 30 minutes.

7.  In addition to the activities, the Kit contains many additional resources, including information about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and being physically active; suggestions for maintaining a healthy youth organization; a parent letter introducing the Power Play! Campaign; a letter requesting classroom resources; puzzles, games and clip art; a calendar of healthy eating and physical activity events; and a listing of organizations and websites related to nutrition and physical activity.

8.  Healthful eating and physical activity contribute considerably to the prevention of short- and long-term health problems in children and adults. Although multiple factors influence a healthful lifestyle, select dietary practices, most notably fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity are important predictors of health. Prevention efforts are especially important today, because the rates of childhood obesity and childhood diabetes have been steadily on the rise.

9.  Research has shown a clear link between nutrition/physical activity and academic achievement. Children who have healthy diets and participate in physical activity every day have increased concentration, improved test scores, reduced susceptibility to stress, and reduced disruptive behaviors, compared to their counterparts.

10.  Contact Ben Melendrez—CYO Representative for more information at 323-260-3840 or .

For food stamp information, call 877-847-3663. Funded by the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, an equal opportunity employer.