Close Resources

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025


Success Story LEAP for Health: Literacy, Eating, Activity, for Prescholers/Primary - with Kindergarten virtual live offering



LEAP for Health: Literacy, Eating, Activity, for Prescholers/Primary - with Kindergarten virtual live offering

Author: Lynn Blankenship

Planning Unit: Metcalfe County CES

Major Program: LEAP

Plan of Work: Nutrition and Food Systems

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Poor nutrition and physical inactivity are tied to obesity. Recent research shows that among U.S. children, ages 2 to 4, nearly 14% were overweight and 13.5% were obese.  Obesity rates for children ages 6 to 11 was even higher at 17 .5%. Obesity has been shown to contribute to major health issues including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, elevated blood cholesterol levels, low self-esteem, negative body image and depression in children. 

To address these concerns, the County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences collaborated with the Metcalfe Co. Extension NEP and general program assistants and the five Kindergarten teachers at the Edmonton Primary Center, to offer the LEAP for Health program to 88 Kindergarten students with 69 students completing both the pre and post program evaluations.  The program consisted of six lessons that focused on teaching children about nutritious foods, healthy eating habits, handwashing/germs and being physically active.  Pre and post program evaluation results are as follows:  

30/69 or 43% of kids showed improvement in being able to identify kids being physically active; 32/69 or 46% improved in identifying a what a healthy snack is, 29/69 or 42% improved in identifying what a vegetable is, 37/69 or 54% improved in identifying what dairy foods are, 21/69 or 30% improved in identifying fruits, 44/69 or 64% improvement in knowing when to wash hands. 

This Agent provided the physical activity segments utilizing the LEAPS Exercise and Joey the Kangaroo books. Participants learned simple, age appropriate exercises that allowed them to actively move from head to toe and participated in 40 minutes of physical activity, as a result of this program offering.  Teachers and children all enjoyed having Extension personnel come into their classroom setting virtually live, on their classroom whiteboards and good interaction between Extension staff, teachers and students occurred.






Stories by Lynn Blankenship


Family Lifestyles TV – Disaster Preparedness series

about 1 months ago by Lynn Blankenship

Western Kentucky is situated near the New Madrid Seismic Zone and is therefore likely to experience ... Read More


Move Your Way MCA Homemaker Summer 2024 Leader training

about 4 months ago by Lynn Blankenship

Being physically active is an important component to overall health and contributes significantly to... Read More


Stories by Metcalfe County CES


Building Great Leaders

about 23 days ago by Amy Branstetter

Metcalfe County 4-H youth and adults have been very successful at the area, state, and national leve... Read More


Master Cattlemen

about 1 months ago by Gary Bell

According to the 2023 state Agriculture overview published by the National AgricultureStatistics Ser... Read More