MODEL Health! Promoting Nutrition and Physical Activity in Children learning kit (the Kit) is a collection of supplementary lessons on nutrition and physical activity with an emphasis on role modeling. Intended as a teacher resource in the early childhood classroom, the Kit is most appropriate for use with children ages three to five. (Kit description).

This kit is available for free download and was developed by Maryland State Department of Edu…

The Healthier US School Challenge (HUSSC) was established to recognize schools that are creating healthier school environments through their promotion of good nutrition and physical activity.

In February 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama introduced Let’s Move!, incorporating the HealthierUS School Challenge into her campaign to raise a healthier generation of kids.

You can download the HealthierUS School Challenge kit here.

This month's newsletter provides articles on:

1. Shortening the school year spreads,
2. Study: School recess improves classroom behavior,
3. Disadvantaged preschoolers lack motor skills,
4. Recess not Ritalin
5. List of U.S. Map Stencil Winners for June 2010

Download the June Play Nice Newsletter here.

A new study from the University of Nebraska indicates that banning junk food or foods of "Limited Nutritional Value"in ala cart lines which compete with school lunch hour meals resulted in an 18 percent reduction in overweight or obese students.

The findings, which appears online in the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, are from a three-year research project on child obesity that was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.…

Yet another study is showing that school recess plays an important role in school success for children. Recently a research focus has centered on the connection between recess/physical activity and academic performance. A study released February in Pediatrics documented the positive relationship between recess and improved classroom behavior.