Training Session Held For Area Childcare Directors And Staff

Participants at a childcare training session at Southeastern Indiana YMCA on Saturday. (Image: Kathleen Bohman/ YMCA)
Participants at a childcare training session at Southeastern Indiana YMCA on Saturday. (Image: Kathleen Bohman/ YMCA)

While school may be out for most students, area afterschool child care teachers continue their training for the summer and new school year.

The Southeastern Indiana YMCA hosted a six hour training session facilitated by Jo Ambrose, a consultant from CATCH Kids Club, Saturday, May 31st.

Twenty-nine childcare directors and staff from area afterschool programs including the YMCA Learning Center, St. Anthony’s Preschool/Daycare, Camp Kids, Kinderland, and Ryker’s Preschool, participated in the training.

The training session consisted of teaching obesity trends, nutrition standards and an approved curriculum, as well as active participation in playing games that are included in the physical activity segment of the curriculum.

In addition, each childcare program that participated received a CATCH Kids Club Activity Box that includes over 400 activity cards with detailed instructions for age-appropriate games that get kids moving and having a blast, as well as a starter kit of equipment such as balls, cones, frisbees, bean bags, flags, etc.

YMCA Learning Center Director, Jenny Salyer, said “My staff learned a lot. It’s the first day of Summer Camp and we are already using some of the ideas we learned over the weekend.”

CATCH Kids Club is a physical activity and nutrition education program designed for elementary and middle school aged children in an after-school/summer setting. It is composed of nutrition education materials and a physical activity component. The program offers an easy-to-use format that both children and staff enjoy and is ready to implement in the after-school and summer settings.

Catch KIDS Club is recognized by the CDC and Institute of Medicine.

Funding for the training was provided by a grant awarded from State Alliance of Indiana YMCAs to the Batesville Community Partners Coalition. It was allocated as part of the Alliance’s 2014 Supporting Community Action Grant program, which was made available through its Statewide Pioneering Healthier Communities initiative and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

YMCA Executive Director, Angie Johnson, who submitted the grant request, reports “What a wonderful opportunity and partnership it was Saturday to both host and participate in this training with the leaders in the community who are caring for our children in their home and facility. Five area after school care providers and their staff were present. While some may see them as competitors, on Saturday, they joined together to show that they were united for our area kids, eager to learn and eager to provide them enjoyable activities, helping our youth to lead healthier lifestyles.”