Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The University of North Carolina Wilmington and Smart Start of New Hanover County are teaming up to provide an interactive workshop for individuals who work directly with children ages 2-5 years. Part of a General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids grant, the workshop is designed to integrate more physical activity into a typical day with young children, helping to combat childhood obesity.

The workshop is free for all licensed child care providers in New Hanover County who serve children ages 2-5.

When: 7 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30

Where: Hanover Gymnasium at UNC Wilmington

What: Smart Start of New Hanover County, UNCW’s Obesity Prevention Initiative, and the School of Health & Applied Human Sciences at UNCW are collaborating on a project to end childhood obesity in this age group. The workshop will feature educational and interactive stations that demonstrate strategies for teaching developmentally appropriate locomotion, motor skill development and increasing physical activity. As a follow up, UNCW physical education majors will visit child care facilities to help caregivers lead activities.

Media are invited to take advantage of numerous visual and interview opportunities. UNCW students will lead adult participants at activity stations such as Lenny the Lizard for creeping and crawling, Dara the Duck for walking and marching, and Kate the Kangaroo for jumping and hopping.

Media Contact:
Joy Davis, UNCW Marketing and Communications, 910.632.3903, davisjc@uncw.edu