Bright Start TN Clearinghouse
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High-Quality Early Learning
Health & Development
Family & Community
Strategy
Start for Life
What is it?
Start for Life is a physical activity intervention designed to reduce the body mass index (BMI) of three to five-year-olds. This intervention consists of 30 minutes of structured physical activity every school day. Start for Life incorporates gross motor skills with behavioral skills training. The program is based on social cognitive and self-efficacy theory and aims to increase children’s sense of self-efficacy and self-regulation. Children select a gross motor skill they want to focus on each week and at the end of the week, they reflect on their progress. Start for Life is a 9-month program.
What is the evidence base?
Children that participate in Start for Life exhibit a reduction in BMI.
- Annesi, Smith, and Tennant_2013_Effects of a Cognitive-Behaviorally Based Physical Activity Treatment for 4 and 5 year old children Attending US Preschools
- Annesi, Smith, and Tennant_2013_Reducing High BMI in African American Preschoolers
Together, We Are Making A Difference
We're proud to champion quality early childhood education for our great state of Tennessee, and with your help we're accelerating progress.
