The four pillars of the First Lady’s campaign are:

Helping parents make healthy family choices;

Serving healthier food in schools;

Making healthy, affordable food more accessible;

Increasing children’s physical activity.

Since the announcement today, I’ve received e-mails or read about resounding cheers in agreement from organizations that include the American Diabetes Association, The American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Medical Association and more.

“The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic and security of our nation is at stake,” Obama said, according to a news release from the USDA. “This isn’t the kind of problem that can be solved overnight, but with everyone working together, it can be solved.”

Recent studies put the health care costs of obesity-related diseases at $147 billion per year, the USDA information stated.

Weighing in from the the pediatrics academy, Judith S. Palfrey, president of the organization that represents 60,000 pediatrician, called rescuing children’s health “a medical and moral imperative” in a news release.

“Over the past twenty years, our nation has seen an alarming rise in the number of our children who are overweight and obese. It will take a concerted effort and thoughtful collaboration to help create healthier communities for children,” she said.

The pediatric academy is asking pediatricians to start calculating the body mass indexes, or BMI, for patients over 2, among other recommendations.

The Let’s Move! campaign is a collaborative and community-oriented effort. Joining Obama for the announcement included local students, members of the president’s Cabinet, Congress members, many of the nation’s mayors and leading representatives from the fields of media, medicine, sports, entertainment and business communities.

~ Lillie-Beth Brinkman (lbrinkman@opubco.com)

 

First up – picking a venue. I’ve been doing a bit of research on some neat places in the metro-area that parents can have great birthday parties for young kids.  Here are a few:

1.  The zoo.  The Oklahoma City Zoo has indoor and outdoor facilities that can be reserved for parties and other functions.  There are classrooms in the Education Center, an area in the Canopy Restaurant and outdoor picnic tables.  If your child has a birthday in a warmer weather month, this is a great place to go.  Kids can see the animals as a group and take rides on the train and tram. For more information go to www.okczoo.com and click on “Facility Rental.”

2. Indoor play gyms. We picked Gymboree last year and it was a blast. The staff basically does all the entertaining and toddlers have a great time participating in games and indoor gym equipment.  And the best part? No cleanup.  The kids get to eat their cake on the floor while sitting on a big parachute.  Another place that offers indoor climbing fun is The Little Gym and for inflatable fun, try Pump it Up or Bouncin’ Craze.

3.  The classic pizza-and-game spots.  Who could forget Chuck E. Cheese? I remember spending a few great birthday parties there.  And there are a few in the metro-area offering food, games and more.  Although I think these may be more suitable for kids age 5 and older, anyone can have fun here.  Another is Incredible Pizza on Northwest Expressway. They have a big buffet and different-themed eating rooms.  They also have bowling, miniature golf and go-karts in addition to the many arcade games.  Celebration Station  and Andy Alligator’s also have indoor/outdoor fun and games, for older toddlers/kids.

4. Trains.  Kids love trains.  Just ask my son.  There are a couple of really neat venues that offer real train rides as part of the party fun.  The Oklahoma Railway Museum is open for parties from April to October.  They have two packages – one with and one without a train ride (but really, what’s the fun without a ride?)  And for the party, they can either seat kids in the waiting room at the depot or in a 1921 caboose.  Also, just east of the metro-area, is  L.O.C.O.  which is a Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma. They operate miniature trains that kids can ride on at their park.  They also give free rides the first Sunday of every month from 1-4 p.m. if you want to check them out.

5. Parks. There are a number of metro-area parks that have picnic facilities and playground equipment. Some in the summer have splash pads so kids can wear their swimsuits and stay cool.  It’s an inexpensive fun alternative to other venues, and it keeps the mess out of your house.  For a list of city parks and their amenities, go to http://www.okc.gov/Parks/.  You’ll also find out about programs and other opportunities for fun they offer.

These are just a few suggestions to get you started.  As I come across more between now and April, I’ll be posting them on this blog.  And if you have any birthday party suggestions, please let me know!  I’d love to list them so other parents can have it as a resource.  Comment below or email me.

~Erica Smith

esmith@opubco.com