KIDS' FANS Program Building healthy families together

Studies show that children who are well-nourished and participate in regular physical activity are more focused in school and perform better academically, are less likely to be absent, exhibit fewer behavioral problems, and have increased self-esteem.

However, statistics show that children aged 2-18 consume on average 40% of their total daily calories from foods that are high in sugar and fat and low in nutritional value. Children also spend more than 7 ½ hours a day in front of a screen (TV, videogame, computer, phone) and only one in three children are physically active every day.*

https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/resource-center/facts-and-statistics/index.html

Since its inception in 2009, KIDS’ FANS has grown significantly in the community as a resource for teaching healthy behaviors to children. The KIDS’ FANS curriculum has been taught in over 40 community sites* and reached thousands of children.

In addition to schools, KIDS’ FANS is taught in pre-schools, summer camps, after-school programs, community sites, and health fairs.

In March 2016 and 2017, KIDS’ FANS, along with the Stamford Children’s Health Collaborative, spearheaded a city-wide nutrition awareness initiative for March National Nutrition Month. The initiative included a kick-off proclamation at City Hall courtesy of the Mayor’s office, followed by a variety of free nutrition and physical activity classes and events for children and their families throughout the month of March.

Community outreach is an integral part of KIDS’ FANS’ role in promoting healthy eating and physical activity and its presence at local health fairs and request for presentations remains robust and ongoing.

In accordance with the Connecticut state-mandated health curriculum, and supported by studies that show the correlation between student health and academic achievement, KIDS’ FANS hopes to fill the gap in schools, as well as in the community, by increasing awareness and improving health behaviors for students and their families.

*Sites include: AITE High School, Boys & Girls Club, Carver Center (Norwalk), Chelsea Piers, Childcare Learning Center, Chester Addison Community Center, Cloonan Middle School, CP Kids, Davenport Ridge Elementary School, Dolan Middle School, Domus, Fairgate Farm, FISH, Hart Magnet, Jewish Community Center, Julia Stark Elementary School, K.T. Murphy Elementary School, Mill River Park, New Canaan Community Preschool, Newfield Elementary School, Northeast Elementary School, Ponus Middle School (Norwalk), Rippowam Middle School, Roger’s International, Roxbury Elementary School, Sono Ice, Springdale Elementary School, Stamford High School, Stamford Recreation, Stillmeadow Elementary School, Strawberry Hill School, Tokeneke Elementary School (Darien), Toquam Magnet, Trailblazers, Vita, Waterside School, Westover Magnet, Westhill High School, Yerwood Center, YMCA, as well as health fairs and community presentations

The Collaborative is comprised of a group of community members who are committed to identifying health-related needs and discussing ways to narrow the gap by linking resources and providing programming to parents and children in Stamford with the goal of increasing access to and awareness of nutrition and physical activity for overall wellness and obesity prevention.