Goal
The primary goal of Fit WIC Vermont is to increase active physical
playtime and decrease sedentary time for three and four year
olds through a family-based intervention.
Methods
The Fit WIC Vermont project developed the" Fit WIC Activity
Kit" in response to information they collected which indicated
that parents valued physical activity as a healthy behavior
for their children, but were unsure about the types or amounts
that would be appropriate for their preschoolers-. The Activity
Kit contains a variety of written materials and hands-on items
specifically compiled using Social Cognitive Theory to help
WIC families overcome barriers to, and increase opportunities
for, active physical play. Included in the Kit are a colorful
and easily accessible book for parents that provides information
on the relationship between cognitive and physical development,
ideas for incorporating physical activity into everyday routines,
and specific skill-building activities designed to enhance
physical development and learning. The book is structured
around the Fit WIC Activity Pyramid, which offers recommendations
for both unstructured and structured playtime and specific
information about activity resources within the community
for family outings. The book promotes the role of parents
as their child's first and most important teacher, and offers
parents the skills and confidence needed to successfully take
on this role. Hands-on play items such as a beach ball, beanbags,
and a cassette tape of children's movement songs are also
in the Kit.
The Fit WIC Activity Kit allows WIC staff to bypass the
parental "disconnect" around recognizing overweight and obesity
in their children, and to address this issue in a manner that
is received positively by participants. At the same time,
it serves as a preventive measure for normal weight children.
Accomplishments
The Fit WIC Activity Kit was very well received by the participating
families and by the WIC staff at the intervention sites. Because
families can use the Fit WIC Activity Kit to enhance their
health education and health outcomes in a manner that is convenient
for them, they are highly likely to actually use the materials
once they leave the WIC clinic. Ninety-five percent of WIC
mothers reported ever using the Activity Kit, with 71% using
it more than 4 times during the first 2 weeks. Three to five
months later, at the time of follow-up, usage had dropped
somewhat but was still frequent. Ninety-seven percent of mothers
reported they would use the Fit WIC materials again in the
future. Compared to a control group of Vermont WIC mothers
who did not receive the Fit WIC intervention, mothers who
used the Fit WIC Activity Kit reported an improvement in their
child's active play skills, an increase in the time the child
spent doing some types of active play and more confidence
in their own ability to teach play skills to their child.
Additionally, mothers responded that the Fit WIC Vermont
Activity Kit helped them connect with their child, inspired
new parent-child activity ideas, and reminded them of the
importance of physical activity and play. An unexpected effect
of the Kit reported by some mothers was improvement in their
child's language and communication skills. Many mothers who
had children of varying ages said the Kit was adaptable to
a wide range of family ages and interests.
Information
Fit WIC Vermont
Lynne Hathaway-Bortree, M.S.
Project Co-Director
Vermont Department of Health
Phone: 802-863-7333
Email: lbortre@vdh.state.vt.us
Karen Flynn
WIC Program Administrator
Vermont Department of Health
Phone 802-652-4171
Email kflynn@vdh.state.vt.us
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Notebook
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