The Get Up
Get Moving campaign, offered by the Wilkes Community Partnership for Children
and funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, has ended
with The Children’s Center of Wilkes claiming the title of most steps walked
during the campaign. A total of 8,187,009
steps were recorded by the staff participating at The Children’s Center of
Wilkes during the Get Up Get Moving campaign.
Amber
Shumake was the individual overall winner walking the most steps of any child
care provider in Wilkes County, 1,242,049
steps. The Get Up Get Moving six
month campaign began in May and ended in October. Steps were reported monthly by participants
using pedometers that recorded each step that participants took. This campaign was designed to encourage
movement and activity within the child care center.
During
evaluations, participants reported feeling better, reducing stress, and losing
weight. Most participants indicated they
will continue wearing the pedometer to record steps to ensure a higher level of
activity.
Susan Cogdill, Executive Director of the Wilkes
Community Partnership for Children, spoke on the benefits of the Get Up Get
Moving campaign. “The Partnership for
Children was honored to be chosen to receive funding from the Blue Cross Blue
Shield of North Carolina Foundation.
Child care teachers are influential in the physical activity of young
children. Movement throughout the entire
day while caring for young children is not only a necessity but a requirement
to maintain a successful classroom environment.
Preschool children begin learning about the
importance of physical activity in the classroom through their role model, the
classroom teacher. Get Up Get Moving has
allowed teachers and assistants to recognize and value movement throughout the
day.”
For more
information on programs and activities of the Wilkes Community Partnership for
Children visit their website www.wilkessmartstart.com
. The Partnership for Children is a
Smart Start funded agency and a United Way agency.
