Healthy Children, Healthy Weights (HCHW) is a program designed for use in childcare, preschools, and other early learning settings to help educators and parents prevent childhood overweight by promoting healthy weight habits in children from birth to kindergarten.

HCHW Focuses On:

• Healthy Activity
• Healthy Eating
• Healthy Nutrition
• Healthy Drinks
• Healthy Weight
• Healthy Gardening

HCHW Provides:

• Training
  The interactive training typically spans two hours. The training is conducted by a Registered Dietitian and provides information as well as a chance to become familiar with the Healthy Children, Healthy Weights Tools. Participants in the training learn how to modify children’s menus, daily routines, and environments to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. Trainings are free to groups of childcare providers, parents, health care providers, and members of faith-based organizations.
  
• Toolbox
  The Healthy Children, Healthy Weights Toolbox addresses issues that, according to research, are key to promoting healthy weight in all children.  Tools include information sheets, activity plans, resource lists, games, and posters. Materials are culturally appropriate and easy to understand. Tools designed for parents are also available in Spanish.
• Healthy Activity
• 6 Ways to Active Kids  
• Healthy Eating
• Healthy Nutrition
• Healthy Drinks
• Healthier Drinks for Healthier Kids
• Healthy Weights
• Healthy Gardening
  
• Technical Assistance
  Healthy Children Healthy Weights staff and their community partners provide advice to adults that care for children regarding nutrition and physical activity. Technical advisors will help childcare providers set goals and provide resources to achieve these goals.  Examples of technical assistance include:
• Identifying which tools and resources are useful for increasing teacher-led physical activity in a childcare center.
• Providing advice on which physical activity equipment is best for children ages birth through five years.
• Providing suggestions for increasing the servings of fruits and vegetables on a weekly menu.
  
• Educational Materials
  Healthy Children, Healthy Weights educational materials are designed for parents of children ages birth – 5 years. The materials are available in English and Spanish.  To see available posters, click on the Publications tab above. 

Posters

• An Hour a Day to Play
• Build Children Up With Words
• Make Snacks Count
• Reduce TV Time
• Take Time for Meals
• Water First for Thirst

Parent Handouts

• An Hour a Day to Play
• Build Children Up With Words
• Healthier Drinks for Healthier Kids 
• Healthy Gardening
• Make Snacks Count
• Reduce TV Time
• Take Time for Meals 

NACCHO Model Practice
NACCHO features Healthy Children, Healthy Weights as a Model Practice.

Report on the Body Mass Index of Ohio's Third Graders, 2004-2005
Ohio Department of Health - Public elementary schools within each county in Ohio were randomly chosen to participate in a study of measuring Body Mass Index (BMI) in third graders.

The City of Columbus Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition Partners:

• Action for Children
• American Heart Association
• Child Development Council of Franklin County
• Children's Hunger Alliance
• Children's Hunger Alliance - Eat Better, Do Better Program
• Columbus Urban League
• Columbus Neighborhood Health Clinic
• CPH Cardiovascular Health Project
• CPH Healthy Places Program
• CPH Institute for Active Living
• CPH Maternal and Child Health
• CPH WIC
• Council on Healthy Mothers and Babies
• Ohio Childcare Referral and Resource Association
• Ohio Deparment of Health
• OSU College of Public Health
• OSU - Ohio Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
• Nationwide Children's Hospital
• United Way of Central Ohio