I am Moving, I am Learning (IMIL) is a direct education and PSE Change intervention designed to increase daily moderate-to vigorous physical activity, improve the quality of movement activities, and promote healthy food choices among preschool children. As an “active learning” curriculum enhancement, IMIL augments what early learning settings already do to promote physical activity and healthier nutrition. 

Target Behavior: Healthy Eating, Physical Activity

Intervention Type: Direct Education, PSE Change

IMIL targets pre-school aged children at child care settings. It was developed for and pilot tested in Head Start centers. Programs are able to decide whom they would like to involve in the intervention activities – children, parents, staff, and/or the broader community.

Setting: Child care

Target Audience: Preschool (<5 years old)

Race/Ethnicity: All

IMIL is not a prescriptive program, but instead provides a flexible framework of strategies and resources that programs can use to develop a customized program to meet their needs. IMIL uses a “training of trainers” approach, where key staff members are trained and then return to their individual Head Start programs to train other staff. Components that individual programs may choose to include for the different target audiences include:

Children

• Activities to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity/reduce sedentary time
• Activities to develop movement skills/coordination
• Activities to promote healthy eating
• Tracking height and weight

Parents and Families

• Involving parents in efforts to promote moderate-to-vigorous physical activity/healthy eating
• Sponsoring workshops or events
• Helping parents monitor their own health

Staff

• Promoting workplace physical activity
• Promoting healthy eating in the workplace
• Helping staff monitor their own health

Community/Neighborhood

• Sponsoring workshops or events to promote IM/IL
• Promoting increased access to healthy foods
• Working to create community playground/recreation space

A variety of resources in both print and digital formats to help implement IMIL are available from Choosy Kids including:

• Music CDs with nutrition and physical activity themes 
• Comprehensive instructional system including music, lyrics for facilitating conversations, classroom activities, music videos, adventure stories, family engagement activities, staff wellness activities, and more. 
• Wide variety of free downloadable resources in English and Spanish 
  • https://choosykids.com/pages/imil-resources
• Virtual and in-person training 
  • https://choosykids.com/pages/imil-training

 

A mixture of free and for purchase resources.

https://choosykids.com/pages/imil-resources 

A survey sent to Head Start programs participating in the “training of trainers” event in the Spring of 2006 found that:

• 96% of programs reported implementing IM/IL during the following program year
• 94% of programs reported implementing one or more program enhancement activities focusing on physical activity
• 67% of programs reported implementing one or more program enhancement activities focused on nutrition
• 85% of programs reported reaching parents through distributing written materials such as flyers, pamphlets or newsletters; 71% held parent workshops or events; and 63% discussed nutrition and/or physical activity at a parent-teacher conference
• 52% reported offering activities focusing on improved eating and physical activity behaviors for staff
• 52% reported identifying a community organization as a partner in implementing IM/IL

Additional evaluation summaries are below:

• https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/i-am-moving-i-am-learning-early-findings-implementation-obesity-prevention-enhancement
• https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/stage1_survey.pdf
• https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/i-am-moving-i-am-learning-early-findings-implementation-obesity-prevention-enhancement

Classification: Research-tested

Based on the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework, the following outcome indicators can be used to evaluate intervention progress and success.

	Readiness and Capacity – Short Term (ST)	Changes – Medium Term (MT)	Effectiveness and Maintenance – Long Term (LT)	Population Results (R)
Individual	ST1, ST3	MT1, MT3	LT1, LT3
Environmental Settings	ST5, ST6, ST7	MT5, MT6	LT5, LT6, LT7, LT8, LT9, LT10, LT11
Sectors of Influence

A variety of evaluation tools are available in the appendices of the Implementation Evaluation Report, including:

• Questionnaire for staff leading IM/IL
• Telephone Interview Guide for Program Managers
• Telephone Interview Guide for Classroom Teachers/Home Visitors
• Director/Program Manager Interview Guide
• Teacher Focus Group Interview Guide
• Parent Focus Group Interview Guide
• Observation Form and Coding Specification Manual
• Implementation Assessment Rubric

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/i-am-moving-i-am-learning-early-findings-implementation-obesity-prevention-enhancement

Website:

Choosy Kids IMIL Resources and Training: https://choosykids.com/pages/imil 

Head Start: The I am Moving, I am Learning website (https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/i-am-moving-i-am-learning-early-findings-implementation-obesity-prevention-enhancement) includes a summary report of the first two years, testimonials, and a timeline of the programs history.

Contact Person(s):
Choosy Kids
Phone: (304) 777-4541
Email: info@choosykids.com

 

*Updated as of August 8, 2023