Missouri MOve Smart!

Fit-Tastic! Partner Spotlight video featuring Lisa Farmer and Emily Meissen-Sebelius

MOve Smart Child Care is a program that recognizes early care and education (ECE) facilities for following best practices in physical activity with children birth through age five (5). Recognition is awarded by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Young children may not be reaching physical activity recommendations. Research has shown that average preschoolers may only get about 25 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity during the child care day and they are sedentary or seated for over half of the day. MOve Smart Child Care defines and teaches ECE programs to implement 12 practices or criteria that can make a big difference in how active children are.
Recognition is voluntary, but if a child care has decided to be MOve Smart, all staff must work as a team to make it happen. There are two levels of recognition. The Core Level is awarded for following the first six (6) criteria. Advanced Level is awarded for following all twelve (12) criteria.

Part of Missouri’s MoveSmart Program, Dr. Craft has started “More than Child’s Play” training that was held March 6th. Use the below links to access the recording and powerpoint slides
>> Recording
>> Slides

The program also offers a new MOve Smart workbook that includes:

• Information about physical activity for infants
• Suggestions for choosing play equipment.  NOTE:  MOve Smart no longer requires that you purchase any specific play equipment.
• A physical activity self-assessment questionnaire to show how well your child care is already doing before you apply.
• Teacher tips for managing and leading structured physical activity.

Lisa Farmer-Lauer, MS.Ed., Senior Nutritionist, with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Community Health & Wellness, has over 20 years of community nutrition experience working to increase knowledge and resources in PreK-12 school settings.  This broad knowledge base sets her apart from many of her peers, and offers a vision of seamless nutrition and wellness education for students, families and school stakeholders. Her current projects include ECE lead on the Missouri Physical Activity and Nutrition grant and nutrition lead on the Missouri Health Schools grant.

Emily Meissen-Sebelius, M.S.W., is a project coordinator for the Weighing In program, within the Center for Children’s Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City. Emily leads community collaboration and evaluation projects aimed to help children achieve healthy, active lives.  Before joining Children’s Mercy, Emily was an analyst at the Kansas Health Institute, where she conducted research and worked with state agencies and elected officials on issues related to children's health.