Hi Mamas,
I'm volunteering to help out with an annual walk-a-thon fundraiser at our CPS and am looking for any good leads on any healthy programs or services that might be able to make a presentation to our students. In the past we've had a bike safety talk, so something along those lines? Healthy eating, exercise, taking care of your body, etc. etc. I'd prefer no solicitations for buying healthy products, looking for more consumer awareness type of stuff. Know of anything kid-appropriate? Please let me know!! Thank You!!!
I would contact the community relations dept. of a local hospital. They often do these types of presentations at schools. Kaiser, in particular, is big on providing healthy living programs.
My children's school do Jump Rope for Heart through the American Cancer Association. It's a fund raiser where kids jump rope to raise money...not sure if this fits you needs, but maybe an idea. good luck!
As a family chiropractor I do these talks for kids and adults for healthy spines. My office is in Oak Park, so I am not sure where in Chicago you are looking for speakers, but if it is close to me I would love to.
Dr. J. Aardema ###-###-####
At our school we have a school garden and in fall we once had a chef come in and show the kids how to cook healthy foods with the vegetables from the garden. The kids loved it!
You might try contacting a local yoga studio or someone from the Park District that offers kids classes, invite "Girls on the Run" (if your school doesn't already participate- it's a super program), maybe a rep from Whole Foods could do a presentation about packing healthy lunches, etc.
contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral (in the phone book or online you can find them) and tell them what you are doing. They will have suggestions plus may be able to bring stuff as well. They usually have at least one staff person who's main job is this type of thing.
Another thing we have done at our school is contact a local farm (ok, in Chicago you may have to do someone who has a stand at a farmer's market) and they brought stuff in to share.
Grocery stores are another great resource in these events. We had Jewel giving out cards that were for free fruit and the reuseable bags and such, Dominick's gave out stickers or something like that and coupons for something from their organic line, and Whole Foods had some taste testing going on.
We also had lots of little booths set up that showed the kids how much sugar was in things (measured out in baggies the amounts and they matched them to the packaging they thought was right and then checked it), how much fat (same idea) and some games about food groups too.
What about a fire truck and fireman and ambulance and to first aid where the kids practice wrapping their arms with gauze or fire safety stop drop and roll and those fire houses that have pretend smoke? Or I know lake forest has those trailers and they check blood pressure I bet they or comer children's hospital has something like that with a nutritionist. Your could also have a dentist come and practice brushing teeth or those tablets that turn your teeth red and show plaque. U can have the PE teacher make up games for teeth health. Treasure hunts fur the five dental awareness tips ie brush, floss, eat healthy etc.. Call Colgate they have programs and send free books and tooth pate and a movie etc good luck let me know what u end up doing!
The WIC program has a lot of great material on nutrition for children. Depending on the office nearest you, they might be willing to send a nutritionist to speak.
