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Latest Developments
Four Children's Museums
Rank Healthiest Places to Play and Learn in U.S.
-- Association of Children's Museums Designates First Crop of Good
to Grow! Museums --
Washington, D.C. - There is nothing funny
about the rise in childhood obesity and other health concerns facing
families with young children today. But there are fun ways to address
some of the basic issues that contribute to children's health. Four
museums -- Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee;
Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert in Rancho Mirage, California;
The Children's Museum of the Brazos Valley in Bryan, Texas; and
Discovery Center Museum in Rockford, Illinois -- have been ranked
as Good to Grow! Museums by the Association of Children's Museums
(ACM) for making significant strides to promote health and wellness
to children and families in their communities.
Visit the ACM
Press Room to download the full media announcement.
Become a Good to Grow!
Museum
Earn national recognition from ACM and increase
your museum’s credibility as a children’s health resource
with funders, partners
and key audiences.
All Good to Grow! Museums are listed on GoodtoGrow.org
and receive a recognition certificate from ACM and a Good to Grow!
Museum seal to display in the museum. Good to Grow! Museums may
use the Good to Grow! logo on marketing materials and museum Web
site.
Your first step to becoming a Good to Grow! Museum
is to begin the Self-Study
process (log in as an ACM member and click on Self-Study),
in which your museum benchmarks its health and wellness efforts
and creates a concrete plan for advancing its work.
Questions? Contact Eliza
Ward , Program Manager, Development & Special Initiatives
Partnership-Building Toolkit
Designed to help museums strengthen partnerships
with other community organizations committed to children's health,
the Community
Partnership-Building Toolkit is a collection of resources
that focus on choosing the right partners; initiating new partnerships;
shaping
goals and outcomes; communicating with partners, media and the public;
and assessing the effectiveness of partnerships.
Visit the online
toolkit (log in as an ACM member and click on Partnership-Building
Toolkit) to download worksheets, tips and sample documents to use
in creating and strengthening your partnerships that support the
health and wellness of children and families in your community.
Healthy Kids, Healthy Museums
Publication
Coming Soon! ACM is publishing a book highlighting
best healthy practices at children's museums. The book focuses on
health-related exhibits, programs and initiatives and gives tips
to guide replication at other museums.
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About Good to Grow!
Good to Grow! is a leadership
initiative launched by the children's museum field and guided by
the Association of Children's Museums
to support children's museums in providing healthy choices and activities
for children and families in their communities.
Obesity is quickly becoming America's leading
health crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past
20 years among children ages six to eleven, as well as related diseases
such as diabetes,
high blood pressure, sleep apnea, growth disorders and depression.
Recent studies indicate that obese children rate their quality of
life
as low as children with cancer. Experts believe that family education
is the single most important factor in promoting healthy choices,
yet parents are bombarded with confusing messages and competing
priorities.
Clearly, help is needed to guide families along
the path to health and well-being. The Good to Grow! leadership
initiative is based on two main premises: 1.) The family is the
most important factor in promoting children's health; and 2.) Families
turn to children's museums for engaging activities, quality interactions
and trustworthy information about child development and health.
In 2003, a consortium of ACM member museums convened
to address these urgent issues, sharing a common belief that children's
museums occupy a special role as trusted community resources and
must take action now. Consortium members included Boston Children's
Museum, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Chicago Children's Museum, Children's
Discovery Museum of San Jose, The Children's Museum of Houston and
Minnesota Children's Museum. In 2005, the ACM Board of Directors
voted unanimously to assume leadership of this initiative.
Good to Grow! Framework
Vision
Good to Grow! will improve the health and wellness of families by
positioning and supporting children's museums as community
leaders in promoting healthy choices through play.
Initiative Goals
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Activate children and families as they visit
our museums and participate in our programs.
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Convene and sustain the conversation about
the health of our young children and their families wherever
there is a children's museum.
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Improve the environment for our children by
increasing the healthy options available wherever there is a
children's museum, starting with the museum itself.
- Strengthen the children's museum field
through leadership on this issue and the development of new ways
of working together.
Key Messages
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Good to Grow! highlights the following key
messages within its multiple implementation strategies.
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Eating healthy foods in the right amounts;
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Increasing physical activity;
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Reducing screen time (including computer and
TV); and
- Connecting with nature through outdoor play.
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Partners
| Program Partners |
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- We
Can!
(Ways to Enhance Children's
Activity & Nutrition) is a national public education
outreach program designed to help children 8-13 years old
stay at a healthy weight through improving food choices,
increasing physical activity, and reducing screen time.
We Can! is unique because it provides practical tips and
materials to parents and families in home and community
settings. The We Can! Web site is a one-stop resource for
community groups, health care professionals, and parents
and caregivers with information, fact sheets, and materials
to either download or order including a community toolkit,
parents brochure (in English and Spanish), poster, PSAs
and a wristband.
The program is a collaboration of four
Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH): the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
(NICHD) and National Cancer Institute (NCI).
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American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization
of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical
subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated
to the health, safety and well being of infants, children,
adolescents and young adults. AAP is committed to children’s
health and recognizes childhood overweight and obesity
as a serious health concern. The Academy continues to
work for improvements in obesity prevention, treatment,
advocacy and reimbursement.
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| Funding Partners |
- Civil
Society Institute is a nonprofit and nonpartisan
think tank that serves as a catalyst for change by creating
problem-solving interactions among people, and between communities,
government and business that can help to improve society.
Insight into programs that have and have not worked in
recent years has led Civil Society Institute to a unique
model for addressing society’s most pressing problems.
Simply stated, its approach lies in the way it serves as
catalysts for change, especially in key areas of critical
need: science policy and regenerative medicine, climate
change and global security and economic change.
In each of these areas, we seek out examples of creative
thinking and activities already underway, including those
of individuals, community groups, businesses and the nonprofit
and public sectors. We create interactions between people,
communities, government and business in order to link successful
programs to groups who can use them, to eliminate obstacles
to success and to encourage informed debate of the issues.
We also support these efforts with strategic planning and,
on occasion, funding. Civil Society Institute is committed
to improving society with breakthrough thinking and creative
action.
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The Trustees’
Philanthropy Fund of the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
is separate from Fidelity Investments
Charitable Gift Fund, with donor contributions that engage
the Board of Trustees and the organization in direct philanthropy.
The Trustees' Philanthropy Fund has granted more than
$8.8 million to charitable organizations since its inception
in 1991, and has delivered on fulfilling the Gift Fund's
mission to further the American tradition of philanthropy.
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- The Institute
of Museum and Library Services is the primary source
of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries
and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create
strong libraries and museums that connect people to information
and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and
in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain
heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation;
and support professional development.
Libraries and museums help create vibrant, energized
learning communities. Individual achievement and success
as a democratic society depend on learning continually,
adapting to change readily and evaluating information
critically. As stewards of cultural heritage, information
and ideas, museums and libraries have traditionally played
a vital role in helping us experience, explore, discover
and make sense of the world. That role is now more essential
than ever. Through building technological infrastructure
and strengthening community relationships, libraries and
museums can offer the public unprecedented access and
expertise in transforming information overload into knowledge.
The Institute's role is to provide leadership and funding
for the nation’s museums and libraries, resources
these institutions need to fulfill their mission of becoming
centers of learning for life crucial to achieving personal
fulfillment, a productive workforce and an engaged citizenry.
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Resources & Research
Visit www.GoodtoGrow.org,
an online destination for families with children ages 2-10 links
the children’s museum experience, home life and the broader
community with compelling messages, engaging activities and accurate
resources for living healthy lives.
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Four
Areas to Explore
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In Family Fun, families plant a virtual Good to
Grow! tree and help their tree sprout colorful stickers
by answering health discovery questions.
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The Gallery is the place where families can see
a wild and wacky array of Good to Grow! trees created
by other families.
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In Grown-up Stuff adults can find tips and tools
to support their family’s good health and connect
with other parents online.
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In Museums, families can learn about “Healthy
Happenings” exhibits, programs and events.
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Kids Dig Dirt! Green Paper
ACM is delighted to announce the release
of the Kids Dig Dirt! Green Paper. This new ACM publication
is a product of a dynamic
planning project funded by the Civil Society Institute, which explores
the ways that children's museums can connect children to nature
through outdoor play.
As part of the Kids Dig Dirt! planning project,
ACM convened a Visioning Charette, which included museum professionals
and partners from the fields of outdoor play, informal learning
and environmental research and design for children. The group was
challenged to envision the next generation of outdoor spaces at
children’s museums that will inspire active play, exploration
and respect for nature while improving the health of the community.
The Green Paper proposes that children’s museums integrate
outdoor spaces and experiences that connect children and families
to nature. It describes the crucial impact that hands-on, immersive
nature play can have on individual health, environmental health
and sustainable development. It provides the vision as well as guiding
principles and resources for developing outdoor environments in
children’s museums.
Kids Dig Dirt! Green
Paper Delivery Options:
-
 Free
Online Download: Simply register
with ACM to access a PDF of the publication.
- Mail Delivery: Submit a publication
order form along with payment to ACM. Limited print
inventory.
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General Information & Research
Following is a list of materials and organizations that ACM
program developers have been utilizing in the development
of the Good to Grow! initiative. As Good to Grow! content
pieces (the web site, tool kits, etc.) are produced, each
piece will be vetted by an advisory board that will include
medical, scientific, fitness, museum and education experts
to make sure we have the latest, most accurate information.
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American Academy of Pediatrics
Policy
Statement on Obesity, 2003
Overweight
and Obesity: AAP Resources |
American Dietetic Association
Healthy
Habits for Healthy Kids: Nutrition and Activity Guide for Parents
Food
& Nutrition Web pages |
American Heart Association
A
Nation at Risk: Obesity in the United States Statistical Sourcebook
Resources
for Families and Teachers: Understanding the Problem |
Centers For Disease
Control
CDC's
National Leadership Role in Addressing Obesity: June 2005
CDC
Telebriefing Transcript: Overweight and Obesity: Clearing the
Confusion. June 2, 2005
Overweight
and Obesity: Resources
Healthy
Schools, Healthy Youth |
The Future of Children
Childhood
Obesity vol. 16, no. 1, Spring 2006
Publication of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International
Affairs at Princeton University and the Brookings Institution |
MedLine Plus
Exercise
for Children
Obesity
In Children |
Connect for Kids
Obesity
Resources |
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American Physiological Society
Obesity:
Womb to Tomb
Obesity
Research Quick Links
The research behind the recommendations.
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American Obesity Association
Childhood
Obesity |
Trust for America's Health
F
as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2006 |
National Coalition for
Promoting Physical Activity
E-Newsletter
There is no charge to sign up for this e-newsletter. Published
twice each month, the email contains information on NCPPA activities,
new research and reports, funding opportunities, news stories
featuring physical activity and related issues, and upcoming
events. |
National Association for the
Education of Young Children
Beyond
the Journal/May 2006: Healthy Young Children: Encouraging Good
Nutrition and Physical Fitness
Resources
for Encouraging Good Nutrition and Physical Fitness |
| Parent Resources |
We Can! (Ways to Enhance
Children's Activity & Nutrition)
The "Learn
It" section includes background information
on obesity and educates parents and caregivers on how to help
families maintain a healthy weight by balancing energy IN (calories
from food/drinks) and energy OUT (calories burned through physical
activity). |
Child Care Aware- The Daily
Parent Newsletter
Food
And Fitness - Making Healthy Habits A Family Affair, vol. 24
Show
Them The Moves: Get Your Children Active For Life, vol. 38 |
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healthfinder.gov (US Department of Health and Human Services)
Obesity
Resources
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| Resources for Children |
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Kick Start Eat Smart!
Activities
for Kids
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United States Department of
Agriculture
My
Pyramid
Eat
Smart. Play Hard |
CDC's BAM: Body and
Mind
Food
and Nutrition
Physical
Activity |
KidsHealth
KidsHealth
is the largest and most visited site on the Web providing doctor-approved
health information about children from before birth through
adolescence. Created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for
Children's Health Media, KidsHealth provides families with accurate,
up-to-date, and jargon-free health information they can use.
Thorough sections for Parents, Kids and Teens. |
| Other National Health Initiatives |
| Action
for Healthy Kids |
| Alliance
for a Healthier Generation |
| Move
for Health (World Health Organization) |
| We
Can! Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition (DHSS
& NIH) |
| Shaping
America's Youth |
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Get Involved
To learn more about Good to Grow! and its
activities, please contact Eliza
Ward, ACM program manager,
development & special initiatives, at 703.224.3100 x104.
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Support the Going Wild Project
Children learn best through multi-sensory
experiences. And children’s museums are experts in stimulating
learning through interactive exhibits and programs. But hands-on
learning can extend beyond museum walls. By providing direct
experiences with nature, children’s museums can nurture
healthy, active kids.
Reaching 31 million children and families
worldwide, children’s museums have the opportunity to
connect kids with nature through wild outdoor play spaces.
The Going Wild project is a five-year endeavor that will create
vibrant outdoor environments at children’s museums and
offer related programming to connect kids to nature and give
them a strong sense of environmental stewardship.
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Going Wild will launch over the first two
years at five pilot sites. The National Wildlife Federation
will train museum staff and create a guide for parents to
bring the experience home. In the project’s second phase,
children’s museums nationwide will have access to tools
and training to establish their own wild play spaces and experiences.
The National
Forum on Children and Nature has endorsed Going
Wild as one of 30 projects nationwide that creatively reconnect
kids with nature, benefiting their overall health and appreciation
for the great outdoors. By endorsing this project, the Forum
celebrates its relevance, impact and sustainability. The Forum
seeks to raise visibility and support for endorsed projects.
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