What do you think of when you hear the phrase "Gold Sneaker?"
Some may think of a pair of shoes from the 1980's, but in the PreSchool world, it is a certification we are proud to brag about! In Franklin, Tennessee, the Gold Sneaker is worth its weight in gold!
The state of Tennessee started this initiative to promote health and wellness and start teaching the healthy habits early on! The Academy is proud to promote "Fitness Fanatics," our curriculum theme in January, where we really take it to the next level!
In order to obtain a "Gold Sneaker certification," child care centers and PreSchools have to provide a certain number of healthy exercise and dining options. We have taken a pledge and we want to promote health and wellness in more ways than eating carrots and requiring "recess." While both of those things are familiar to most in the education world, Gold Sneaker is about much more.
Examples of Gold Sneaker Initiatives
Healthy and Nutritious Eating
Physical Activity
Breastfeeding
Non-Smoking Facility Implementation
Less "Screen Time"
The initiative promotes physical activity, nutritious eating, breastfeeding, non-smoking facilities and little-to-no screen time. We adopted these policies years ago and were one of the first centers in the state of Tennessee to achieve Gold Sneaker certification. I was able to speak on behalf of our preschools to the state to tell them about all the changes we had made due to Gold Sneaker. It's been a wonderful addition to our program. For more information and great resource links for parents, please visit
We wish you all a happy and HEALTHY start to your new year!
