With obesity and poor oral health issues on the rise in 2023, more educators in Bell County sought out ways to help make the children in their classrooms healthy and safe. By using the LEAP (Literacy, Eating and Activity for the Primary) curriculum the Bell County Extension Office along with Family Resource Centers, Partners for Rural Impact and several school teachers, we were able to reach 549 students in Pre-K through 3rd grade with educational information concerning these problems.

      The FCS Agent, along with the assistants, visited six schools in Bell County reading stories that encouraged physical fitness, proper oral health, correct hand washing and healthy eating by picking more fruits and vegetables. During the program children listened to stories such as “IQ Gets Fit, Germs, Germs, Germs, Healthy Me and Clarabella’s Teeth to help them relate to the topic at hand. The children would then participate in hands on activity relating to the book.

      A verbal evaluation was given and 100 % of all students gained knowledge on the correct way to wash hands and how to brush their teeth for the right amount of time. Teachers reported that 85% of the children aspired to incorporate more physical activity in their day while at school.

     The LEAP program continues to grow each year in Bell County with more and more teachers requesting that it be implemented in their school because it incorporates literacy and healthy choices.