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Be Active Kids®

An Evidence-Based Practice

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

Be Active Kids (BAK) is an innovative, interactive physical activity, nutrition, and food safety program for preschoolers ages four and five. The program curriculum was designed by professionals in the areas of physical activity, nutrition, and food safety. The curriculum uses colorful characters, interactive hands-on lessons, and bright visuals to teach children about physical activity and healthy eating. The basis of the program is to use fun and interactive methods to teach children about healthy living, and to show them that physical activity and healthy eating can be fun. The BAK program is designed to be used in any type of classroom setting for preschoolers. The program has been implemented in family child care homes, child care centers, public school classrooms, and after school programs.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the Be Active Kids program is to promote healthy lifestyles and good healthy by giving young children the tools they need to develop positive physical activity and nutrition habits.

Results / Accomplishments

In a recent evaluation of the Be Active Kids program, researchers found significant improvements in nutrition and physical activity knowledge of participating children. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, and one-tailed t-tests as appropriate for the sample size and question being analyzed. Children participating in Be Active Kids (n=100) recognized significantly more fruits and vegetables than children in the control group (n=54) (p<.05). Children participating in Be Active Kids were also more likely to be able to name at least three healthy foods (p<.05). In addition, BAK children significantly increased their daily servings of vegetables. Compared to the control group, significantly more (p<.05) of the children participating in Be Active Kids understood what physical activity was or could show the Interviewer by moving their bodies in place or moving around the room. Improvements were also found for BAK children with respect to television viewing.

Since the program was implemented in 1999, over 7,000 curriculum kits have been distributed statewide. In addition, BAK has won numerous national awards.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Be Active North Carolina, Inc.
Primary Contact
Be Active North Carolina, Inc.
2250 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 120
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 287-7000
http://www.beactivekids.org
Topics
Health / Children's Health
Health / Physical Activity
Organization(s)
Be Active North Carolina, Inc.
Source
North Carolina State University, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Date of publication
2001
Location
North Carolina
For more details
http://ncsu.edu/ffci/publications/2001/v6-n3-2001-...
Target Audience
Children

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An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
MiCalhoun