15% of our nation’s youth are involved in afterschool programs.
Combined with the many other out-of-school time settings, this percentage shows a need to make these environments as healthy as possible for all the children they empower to learn, play, and create.
Support Programs Supporting Kids
Out-of-school time settings can play a key role in developing a child’s healthy eating and physical activity habits. Access to nutritious foods in out-of-school time settings could determine a young person’s diet. And physical activity opportunities get kids moving throughout the day and teaches them how to stay active for a lifetime.
Out-of-school time providers across the country are already supporting the healthy development of young people. To build on these efforts, we have combined our knowledge and experience to give staff in these settings the most comprehensive support possible to create environments for healthier eating and more physical activity.
Out-of-School Time Settings
Out-of-school time settings are the places where kids spend their time before and after school, during school breaks, and over the summer. These are the places were young people spend a lot of their free time, and are environments where youth can be encouraged to eat healthier and move more.
Afterschool programs, community centers, summer camps, and faith based organizations are all considered out-of-school time settings. And it’s important to provide the staff, families, and youth at these sites with best practices and resources to offer young people healthy choices.
Promote Positive Choices
Out-of-school time can reinforce healthy eating habits and active lifestyles kids learn at school and at home.
And in many communities, this setting may be one of the only places kids have access to nutritious foods and physical activity.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to make positive choices about his or her health…And through my experiences I know that change starts with me, and my voice has the power to make positive changes.” – Ethan Oro, 14
For and With Youth
Out-of-school time efforts can empower youth to take interest in their own health, create solutions for their community, and sustain change for their generation. And youth can help adults understand the impact of childhood obesity.
Through collaboration between adult out-of-school time program leaders and the young people they serve, healthy lifestyles for children can be created in any community across the nation.
Work with Youth in Out-of-School Time
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