Ebenezer Child Care Centers to Implement 5-2-1-0 Health Program

According to statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years, and in 2008 more than half of all children and adolescents in the United States were overweight.

Childhood obesity, which is serious a problem in the United States, has both immediate and long-term negative effects on children including risks for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social/psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.

According to Beverly Anderson, Executive Director of Ebenezer Child Care Centers with locations in Milwaukee, Mequon, Greenfield, Oak Creek, and Wauwatosa, “These staggering statistics are why Ebenezer Child Care Centers has decided that, in 2012, our agency will focus on helping parents and children live healthier lives. Thanks to a wellness grant, we will be able to implement the ‘5-2-1-0 Let’s Go Program’ to address this important topic.”

The nationally-recognized “5-2-1-0 Let’s Go Program” is centered on the message of incorporating 5 or more fruits and vegetables into your family’s diet daily, 2
hours or less of recreational screen time per day, 1 hour or more of physical
activity per day, and 0 sugary drinks and more water and low-fat milk into your
family’s diet. The logic behind this is really very simple and easy to address.

5 or More Fruits and Vegetables a Day

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables provides vitamins and minerals that are
important for supporting growth and development as well as optimal immune
functions in children. In adults, it can help lower the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and possibly some types of cancer.

2 Hours or Less of Recreational Screen Time

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the average child watches an average of 5-6 hours of TV a day! Watching too much TV is associated with an increased prevalence of obesity, lower reading scores, and attention problems. Therefore the AAP recommends no TV for children under 2 and no more than 2 hours of screen time a day for those over 2.

1 Hour or More of Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is critical for weight maintenance, prevention of chronic
diseases, and burning stress. Research has also proven that children who are
raised in families with active lifestyles are more likely to stay active as
adults.

0 Sugary Drinks, More Water and Low-Fat Milk

Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among children is associated with obesity and cavities. It is recommend that children 1-6 years of age consume no more than 4-6 ounces of juice per day and youths 7-18 years of age consume no more than 8-12 ounces. Switching to low- or non-fat milk products also significantly reduces the dietary saturated and total fat children consume.

Ebenezer Child Care Centers will be hosting a FREE Family Fun Night on “5-2-1-0
Goes to Child Care Overview” on Thursday, January 19th, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at their Downtown Milwaukee Center, located at 340 West St. Paul Avenue, Milwaukee. “5-2-1-0 Goes to Child Care” is a program aimed at increasing healthy eating and physical activity in the child care environment.  The program endorses the "5-2-1-0" message which emphasizes the importance of 5 or more fruits and vegetables; 2 hours or less of recreational screen time; 1 hour or more of physical activity; and 0 sugary drinks, more water, and low-fat milk. Come to this Family Fun Night to learn how to incorporate healthy changes into your family's lifestyle! Activities will include making snowflake shakers, playing with shaving cream snow, and creating paper plate snowmen. In addition to the activities, you will have the opportunity to enjoy dinner on us! Registration is required. Please call 414-643-5070 to register.

Ebenezer Child Care Centers is a not-for-profit, locally based agency committed to providing early childhood programs from the heart. The agency prides itself on being different from other child care providers in that it offers a home-like atmosphere; individualized, nurturing care; and a structured curriculum that is virtues-based for every child’s developmental stage.

Every Ebenezer Child Care Center focuses on all aspects of a child’s development:  cognitive, physical, emotional, and social. In addition to providing quality care, the
agency also offers a variety of free Family Fun Nights and other educational
programming all aimed at helping parents.

The agency has locations in downtown Milwaukee, on Milwaukee’s southside, in Greenfield, Mequon, Oak Creek, and Wauwatosa. The agency’s main office is located at 1496 South 29th Street, Milwaukee. For more information, please call 414-643-5070 or visit the agency’s website at www.ebenezerchildcare.com.