The CDC recommends that preschool age children should be physical activity throughout the day for growth and development.   Children and adolescents age 6-17 should participate in 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity each day.  Research shows that among U.S. children, ages 2- 4, nearly 14% were overweight and 13.5% were obese.  Less than ¼ of children age 6-17 participate in 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Young children need help to develop lifelong physical activity habits.   As children grow, they change physically, mentally, and socially.  Physical activity is important for physical health as well a social and cognitive development.

The Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood states that 90% of a child’s brain is developed by age 5.  Early language and literacy development begins before age three. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, reading regularly with young children builds language, literacy, and social-emotional skills.  Studies show that reading helps young children become good students later.  

The Caldwell County Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences Education, George Coon Public Library, Caldwell County Preschool, and the Caldwell, Crittenden, and Lyon Community Early Childhood Council joined forces to host a StoryWalk® which included both a physical activity and literacy component.  The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.  Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.  The StoryWalk® was set up in Big Springs Park for a month. In addition to the physical activity of walking from page to page, participants were encouraged to complete small tasks throughout the walk including shaping their bodies to look like the animals in the story, hopping, jumping, skipping, and galloping.  Activities to help develop fine motor and literacy skills among young children were provided to families who participated in the StoryWalk®.  Twenty-five participants completed the survey presented at the end of the story.  From the information gathered on the surveys, eighty-four individuals visited the StoryWalk®.   Twenty-seven were age 0-5, twenty-four were age 6-14.  After participating in the event, 100% of survey respondents stated they were likely to read with their children at home and 96% said they would likely to incorporate movement into their storytime at home.  100% were likely to attend future StoryWalk® events.  Families from surrounding counties and even from New York state participated in this event. As a result of the event’s success, the mayor has expressed interest in creating a permanent structure for the StoryWalk® in the park.