![](media/image1.png){width="1.1020833333333333in"
height="0.7229166666666667in"}**Community Kit**

*Below are some developmental stages to help you guide parents in
planning alternative activities to television viewing. No two children
are the same. Each one grows at a different rate-some slower and some
faster. Use this information as a general guide. Parents that have
concerns about their child\'s development should consult their health
care provider.*

+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| **At 2 years**                     | **At 3-4 years**                |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| -   ![](media/image2.bmp) Plan     | -   Likes to explore. Enjoys    |
|     times for play in a safe       |     pushing, pulling, filling   |
|     setting.                       |     and dumping.                |
|                                    |                                 |
| -   Mine! Does not like to share.  | -   Can make choices between    |
|     This comes later.              |     two activities. \"Would you |
|                                    |     like to take a walk or ride |
| -   Plays alongside other children |     your tricycle.\"            |
|     but not *with* other children. |                                 |
|                                    | -   Can hop on one foot and     |
| -   Likes short picture books.     |     walk on their tiptoes. Play |
|                                    |     follow-the-leader.          |
| -   Needs short activities with    |                                 |
|     simple directions. Keep trips  | -   Can sing a song.            |
|     short.                         |                                 |
|                                    | -   Enjoys \"make-believe\"     |
| -   May test limits. Set           |     play. Set up a play store   |
|     reasonable limits and stick to |     or village.                 |
|     them.                          |                                 |
|                                    | -   Can tell you about what     |
| -   Enjoys praise.                 |     they did today.             |
|                                    |                                 |
| -   Can throw and kick a ball.     | -   Learns to play with others  |
|                                    |     and to take turns. Plan     |
| -   Likes to copy Mom and Dad.     |     times for play with other   |
|                                    |     children.                   |
|                                    |                                 |
|                                    | -   May test limits. Set        |
|                                    |     reasonable limits and stick |
|                                    |     to them.                    |
|                                    |                                 |
|                                    | -   Enjoys praise.              |
|                                    |                                 |
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|                                    | -   Can sort objects by color.  |
|                                    |     They can help sort laundry. |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+

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**Reference**

Story M, Holt K, Sofka D, eds. 2000. *Bright Futures in Practice:
Nutrition*. Arlington, VA: National Center for Education in Maternal and
Child Health.

![](media/image1.png){width="1.0020833333333334in"
height="0.6576388888888889in"}

**Community Kit**

1.  *An active child is a healthy child!* Children learn about the world
    around them through active play.

2.  Active play helps your child learn how to move his/her muscles
    (develop their motor skills). Most people don\'t use many muscles
    while sitting and watching TV.

3.  Explore other ways to keep your child busy. Try games, dancing to
    music and toys. If you need quiet-time, try reading or coloring.

4.  Children that watch a lot of TV may have a harder time keeping a
    healthy weight.

5.  Limit TV viewing to 1 hour per day.

6.  Set a good example. Limit television viewing for the whole family.

![](media/image1.png){width="1.1in" height="0.7215277777777778in"}

**Community Kit Professional Notes**

**Ways you can use this kit!**

-   Post a poster. Venture beyond the walls of your facility. Ask
    grocery and discount stores in the Falls Church area to display a
    Fit WIC poster. Even fast food establishments make ideal locations
    for displaying one of the ***activity*** posters.

-   Host a \"TV Turn-off Challenge.\" Ask families to try to go without
    TV for one week. At the end of the challenge, share what everyone
    did instead.

-   Use the Television Discussion Points when counseling parents.

-   Create a bulletin board featuring \"Family Time Unplugged.\" Include
    a variety of suggestions for fun alternatives to television.

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-   Is your organization planning another innovative way to promote the
    Television message? Share your activity with other community members
    by e-mailing it to [awhite@vdh.state.va.us]{.underline}. On the back
    of this sheet are some of the ideas suggested at the Community
    Conference.

> **For Parents**

-   Have an \"activity bowl.\" Fill a bowl with various fun activities
    the family can do instead of watching TV.

-   Give the babysitter and childcare providers a list of activities
    your child enjoys.

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