Resources for Child Care Providers

In addition to our comprehensive, setting specific toolkits, we have a number of resources for child care programs to adopt 5-2-1-0:

• Grab & Go Activities Ring: This tool provides quick and easy activities for children age birth to 18 months, 18 – 36 months, and 3 – 5 years.

• Original 5-2-1-0 Song & Lyrics: Here is our catchy song that is a fun way to learn about 5-2-1-0. Written and performed by Sara Yasner.

• 5-2-1-0 in the First Year Booklet: This booklet gives tips on how to start 5-2-1-0 in your home for newborns and infants. There are also suggestions for parents on how to be role models for their children.

• Healthy Favorites: A Booklet Full of Healthy Tips and Recipes: Let this booklet guide you on your journey to good health! The tips, suggestions, and recipes contained here will give you the tools to get started today!

• StoryWalk^™

• The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): provides cash reimbursement to child and adult day care providers for serving meals and snacks meeting USDA standards to participants enrolled in care. Learn if you qualify and how to participate.
  • Maine CACFP Materials and Resources: find Maine-specific resources for child care providers on planning cycle menus, writing wellness policies, finding free trainings, learning from other’s success stories, accessing past conference materials, and more!

• Nutrition & Wellness Tips for Young Children: Provider Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program: This handbook helps CACFP child care providers create healthier environments for the children in their care. The handbook includes tip sheets on shopping, menu planning, food preparation and active play, as well as an extensive list of resources and best practice recommendations for children ages 2 to 6 years old.

• The Healthy Habits for Life Resource Kit: contains a wide variety of nutrition and physical activity related lesson plans and activities that child care providers can incorporate into their program day. The kit was produced through a partnership of Sesame Street’s Sesame Workshop with Nemours Health and Prevention Services and KidsHealth.org.
  • Part 1 – Get Moving!
    • English
    • Spanish
  • Part 2 – Food and Drink to Grow On
    • English
    • Spanish
  • Part 3 – Every Day is a Healthy Day
    • English
    • Spanish
  • Physical Activity Supplement – We Have the Moves!
    • English
    • Spanish

• Exploring Food Together Toolkit: is produced by the Cooking Matters Program. The toolkit consists of simple activities that adults who work with young children can use, in the classroom or in the home, to help kids learn about new foods and start building the skills to make healthy food choices.

• Let’s Move! Child Care: This initiative provides tools and resources (including online webinars) to promote healthy eating and physical activity in centers and family child care homes for children from birth to age 5.

• Maine Roads to Quality (MRTQ):  MRTQ is the Early Care and Education Career Development Center for Maine. They offer core knowledge training, scholarships, a provider registry for tracking ongoing training and educational accomplishments, and maintain the calendar for statewide continuing education training opportunities for early care and education providers.

• WinterKids: WinterKids helps kids develop healthy lifelong habits through fun, outdoor winter activity. The Preschool GOAL offers active, outdoor activities aligned with Maine Early Learning Guidelines for Child Care education providers. Participants in the WinterKids ECE Challenge receive training and incentives to increase physical activity.
  

• Ten Steps to Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Centers: Resource Kit: A free resource kit developed by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to assist child care providers and community groups in implementing strategies to promote, protect and support breastfeeding women. Includes thorough resources to assist child care programs in reaching each of the 10 steps.