The I am Moving, I am Learning (IMIL) tool.
It can be hard to know how to integrate movement or healthy habits throughout the day.
IMIL is an interactive tool filled with quick and easy ideas for integrating movement, nutrition, and healthy habits into everyday life. There are two versions of the tool: and one for classroom teachers and other caregivers, and one for parents and staff that visit families in the home.
The teacher version allows users to explore a virtual classroom and playground, where they can access specific tips on how to pair movement with learning, or healthy eating with learning. For example, the virtual playground has several clickable objects, including a rope. If you select the rope, the following suggestion pops up: lay large pieces of rope in the sandbox, in squiggly lines, and ask the children if they can keep their balance on the “tightrope.” The activity will allow the children to use their large motor skills and practice following directions.
The parent version does something similar using a virtual home (living room, kitchen, and bathroom) and community (including a park, bus stop, and grocery store). For example, clicking on the refrigerator in the virtual kitchen leads to a pop-up containing this tip: ask your child to help you plan dinner and say that you’ll need a protein, a vegetable, and a starch. Discuss what that means. You’ll be teaching your child about healthy choices and food groups.
IMIL is a newly developed tool; it’s simple and fun. Check it out!