All 4 Kids Program | Extension | University of Nevada, Reno

Helping families get healthy, happy, active and fit

Extension's All 4 Kids Program encourages families in Clark and Lincoln Counties to build healthy habits together. The program and its annual Healthy Kids Festival use activities, music, dance and food to teach kids and their families nutrition, physical activity and self-acceptance.

About the program

About the Healthy Kids Festival

Contact the program team

Making nutrition and physical activity fun for families

Featuring locally written and recorded music and dance for children and their parents, as well as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education (SNAP-Ed) books, "Tummy Talks" and "TV Moves Me," the All 4 Kids Program integrates nutrition and physical activity education into a fun, developmentally appropriate curriculum.

The curriculum includes 19-to-21, 30-minute preschool lessons, taught three times a week for eight weeks by Extension staff. Each lesson uses dance to introduce children to specific movements outlined in the Nevada Pre-K Standards, in addition to a nutrition concept.

Each week of the program, children receive an All 4 Kids Family Pack, containing a nutrition activity for the family to complete together.

In addition, parents and caregivers are invited to attend a monthly family event. Each event has interactive games and a food demonstration for families to try new foods and movement games together. Each family event concludes with children performing the All 4 Kids dances they learned in the preschool lessons.

Together families and children learn to be healthy, happy, active and fit.

An interdisciplinary approach to practicing daily wellness

The prevalence of childhood obesity has dramatically increased nationwide. Specifically, 14 percent of Nevadan children less than 5 years of age are overweight, and 31.5 percent of Nevadan children ages 4 - 6 are obese or overweight. The underlying causes range from genetic propensity to socio-economic, cultural and environmental influences resulting in unhealthful eating and physical activity practices.

A person’s relationship with food and physical activity begins in infancy and is molded during childhood, and young children are dependent on their families to provide their meals and movement opportunities.

To help, Extension faculty with expertise in maternal and child nutrition, exercise physiology, and child development designed Extension's All 4 Kids Program to be an interdisciplinary approach to addressing child obesity. The program helps children meet Nevada Pre-K Standards while encouraging preschool children and families to practice healthy eating habits and be active every day.

Our Healthy Kids Festival | A special experience

Extension's All 4 Kids Program harnesses the power of environmental change to address childhood obesity at the community level through the program's Healthy Kids Festival. The event provides low-income families with young children (ages 3 - 8) with sustainable tools and opportunities to make healthy choices.

The event is unlike a typical health fair. It focuses on a fun learning environment, offering:

Interactive activities from local health, nutrition and physical activity specialists, including youth sports, dance, gymnastics and other physical activity advocates, as well as local chefs, food growers and gardening experts.
Educational activities on topics such as reducing sugary beverages, enrolling children in their first 5k race and registering kids to participate in local team sports.
Opportunities for parents to have their children’s health indicators, such as their Body Mass Index, measured and explained, and to take advantage of other health services for their kids, such as dental or eye exams.
Music and dance entertainers, adding to the excitement of the healthy messaging.

Through three "seed-to-table stations," children get to taste a variety of fruits and vegetables, learn about food systems, and pick out their very own fruits and vegetables at a produce market. These experiences increase fruit and vegetable consumption in young children and their families.

The GROW station - Where young children discover how fruits and vegetables are grown, and enjoy the opportunity to seed and harvest their own fruits and vegetables.
The TRY station - Where local chefs prepare fruit and vegetable salads for young children to taste. The salads include fruits and vegetables the children planted and harvested at the GROW station.
The BUY station - Where children are provided the opportunity, using pretend coins and “Healthy Bucks”, to purchase their own choice of fruits and vegetables, including those they planted, harvested and tasted at the previous stations.

These features of the festival come together to create a special experience.

In collaboration with local community partners, the festival provides long-term solutions to childhood obesity through obesity-prevention behaviors, such as physical activity and healthy eating.

Healthy Kids Festival | Photo gallery

A group of children attempt to hula hoops in a field of grass.

Children hula hoop, demonstrating one of the fun ways that they can stay active.

A volunteer at the festival talking to youth at the farmers market booth.

A volunteer shares information with youth at the BUY station. Photo by Que Photography.

Two kids do pushups after spinning the activity wheel.

Offices of Senator Cortez-Masto and Congressman Horsford share the importance of physical activity with children through a "spin the wheel" game.

Kids and adults are dancing with hands in the air on the grass and on stage during festival.

Fitness staff lead Healthy Kids Festival participants in dance activities from the stage.

A young girl in a pink shirt sits in an inflatable seashell with a woman wearing a multicolored mermaid tail.

Extension’s SNAP-Ed Coordinator Macy Helm helps bring the fun as a mermaid!

A green watermelon is carved with the letters HKF on top, Healthy Kids Festival in the middle and 2022 on the bottom.

Healthy fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, are at the center of the festival.

In the middle of the festival grounds, a group of kids dance in a circle at the Healthy Kids Festival.

Fitness staff join participants at the Healthy Kids Festival to guide physical activities.

News Articles, Fact Sheets, Reports...
All 4 Kids: Healthy, Happy, Active, Fit Classroom Education for Young Children. Evidence-based curriculum to promote healthy eating, physical acivity and positive body image in young children. Lindsay, A., Byington, T., & Sigman-Grant, M. 2010, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, CM-10-06
All About Recipes Part I This publication gives insight on the proper construction of a recipe and its key elements, best practices for recipe development, food tasting and evaluation. Buffington, A., and Li, S. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
All About Recipes Part II This publication provides a brief overview of standardized recipes and how they compare to the common recipe. It also covers recipe modification to meet program guidelines and the needs of special populations. Buffington, A., and Li, S. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Cardio Endurance \| Heart Smart Cardio- Respiratory, or “Cardio” Endurance is an important element to children’s physical fitness. Lindsay, A. and Byington, T. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-20-14
Development and Piloting of a Novel Evaluation Tool for Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs This manuscript details the iterative process used to develop the Childhood Obesity Prevention Program in Extension Rubric (COPPER), provides findings from the pilot process, and reveals the broad application and potential of this tool within Extension and nutrition education. Burgdolf, H., Lindsay, A., Webber, K., Parker, J., and Adams, I. 2023, Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
Eat Smart Be Active - Active Preschoolers: Indoor Play This publication for parents provides ideas for indoor play for preschoolers. Weigel, D. 2022, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Eat Smart Be Active - Active Preschoolers: Outdoor Play This publication for parents provides ideas for outdoor play for preschoolers. Weigel, D. 2022, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Eat Smart Be Active - Am I Really Hungry? This publication gives parents tips to help their children recognize when they are hungry or full. Weigel, D. 2022, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Eat Smart Be Active - Eat Fruits and Veggies Every Day! This publication encourages parents to help their kids eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Weigel, D. 2022, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Eat Smart Be Active - Go, Slow & Whoa: What Should I Know? This publication helps families recognize foods that are the smartest choices, using a traffic light as a metaphor. Weigel, D. 2022, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Eat Smart Be Active - Let's Keep Moving: Unstructured Play This publication for parents provides ideas for unstructured play for children 3 to 5 years old. Weigel, D. 2022, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Eat Smart Be Active - MyPlate and the Five Food Groups This publication introduces families to MyPlate, the USDA's updated model for healthy food choices. Weigel, D. 2022, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Eat Smart Be Active - This is Me! I Love Me! (Child and Body Image) This publication for parents gives tips to help children develop their self-esteem. Weigel, D. 2022, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Eating Healthy at Restaurants - Choose healthy items no matter where you dine Making healthier choices at restaurants can make all the difference to maintain a healthy energy balance . Lindsay, A., Buffington, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-101
Energy Balance Energy balance is being mindful of what we eat, drink, and how much physical activity we are getting. Focusing on energy balance can lead to a healthy lifestyle. Lindsay, A., Buffington, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-99
Engagement Strategies That Promote Physical Activity Using positive engagement strategies in fun, playful social settings are key to promoting physical activity. Lindsay, A. and Byington, T. 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-20-22
Engaging Rural Nevadans in Participatory Research to Explore and Explain the Community Food and Physical Activity Context Anne Lindsay, Courtney Coughenour, Holly Gatzke, Juliana Baker-Tingey, Steve Lewis 2019, Journal of Rural Social Sciences
Flexibility \| Reach for the Stars! Flexibility is an important part of a child’s fitness and includes movements like bending, twisting and stretching. Lindsay, A. and Byington, T. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-20-15
Fundamental Movement Skills \| Active Kids Are Active Adolescents For many children sports and physical activity aren’t natural, aren’t easy and it may not be fun! Lindsay, A. and Byington, T. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-20-12
Get Active! This fact sheet contains information on ways to stay active and the amount of time the activity should be. Lindsay, A. and Constantino, N. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-81
Get Fit! This fact sheet contains information on ways to get fit and how to do them. Learn the amount of time it takes to do these exercises and many more. Lindsay, A. and Constantino, N. 2010, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-73
Get Ready, Get Set, Let’s Go! A variety of tips on how to get more active in your life, whether you want to start slow or jump right into exercises. Lindsay, A. & Constantino, N. 2008, UNCE Fact Sheet FS-08-35
Go, Slow, and Whoa Foods We can help our children recognize which foods are better choices with GO, SLOW and WHOA. Buffington, A. and Lindsay, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, FS-21-86
Healthy choices start early To address childhood obesity, a team of faculty in early childhood education, exercise physiology/physical activity, and nutrition. Extension developed All 4 Kids, a program focusing on healthy lifestyle choices. Byington, T. A., Lindsay, A., Sigman-Grant, M. J. 2014, Journal of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, 69(5), 14-21
Healthy Kids Resource Center: Music & Dance Section \| Healthy Kids Physical Toolkit Music and dance is fun, it doesn’t exclude children who are less skilled, it can be done at school or home, with friends or family and it promotes brain development and social interaction. Lindsay, A. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Healthy Kids Resource Center: Physical Activities To Do With Your Children Section Children have different needs at each age and stage of their development. Each child is also unique. If it's been a while since you've had children in the house, check out this list for activities that can help children learn, have fun, experience success, and feel good about themselves. Lindsay, A. 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno
Healthy Kids Resource Center: Recipes Section Packing a healthy lunchbox and other healthy ideas. Lindsay, A. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, IP
Healthy Tips for Families: Lifelong Healthy Habits Start at Home. Today’s children have different options for food and play than children had in the past. Sadly, many food choices contain more calories and fewer nutrients than a child needs to grow healthy. Try these 10 tips to help your family! Lindsay, A., Buffington, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-100
Healthy Tips For Picky Eaters Exploring Food: How to Explore New Food with Preschoolers Lindsay, A., & Buffington, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-102
Hunger & Fullness - Building Tummy Awareness It's wise for parents and teachers to talk to children about what it means to be hungry and what it means to be full. Buffington, A. and Lindsay, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-88
Inclusion in Early Childhood Programs This factsheet explains inclusion in early childhood and programs that can have benefits. Byington, T. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-67
Influencing Head Start families thoughts and beliefs about health, nutrition, and physical activity. The results of an intervention comparison research study indicated that preschoolers can have an influence on their families’ food selection and physical activity habits. Byington, T. A., Lindsay, A. R., Loesch-Griffin, D., Brumett, S., & Sigman-Grant, M. 2013, National Head Start Association, NHSA Dialog, 16(3), 160-164
Jicama This fact sheet contains extensive information on Jicama facts and dishes anyone can try. Wilson, M. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-22
Kids Cook - Lesson 01 - Fun Flavored Waters This lesson describes how to create healthy fun flavored waters and teaches children how to follow a recipe. Buffington, A. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Kids Cook - Lesson 1 Evaluation This evaluation tests your knowledge of the kids cook lesson 1 curriculum. Buffington, A. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Kids Cook - Lesson 2 Evaluation This evaluation goes along with Lesson 2 Kids Cook to test your knowledge of what you learned from the curriculum. Buffington, A. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Kids Cook - Lesson 3 Evaluation This evaluation goes along with Lesson 3 Kids Cook to test your knowledge of what you learned from the curriculum. Buffington, A. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Kids Win When Family Meals Are A Priority Make Mealtime Quality Time Buffington, A. and Lindsay, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-89
Learning to Like New Foods - Cucumbers are cool Does it seem like your preschooler only wants to eat the same foods every day? Buffington, A. and Lindsay, A. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-87
Muscle and Bone Strength \| Muscles in Motion Did you know that people who are more physically active generally use more energy even at rest than those who are not as physically active? Lindsay, A. and Byington, T. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-20-17
Nevada Statewide SNAP-Ed Needs Assessment, 2020-2021 A needs assessment of SNAP-Ed programs statewide in Nevada. In 2020, all counties had a SNAP-Ed program, though they did not all receive individual funding, and 9 had programs, delivered by Extension. This publication shows many counties lack health and nutrition programs and how to improve this within the state. Buffington, A., Webber, K., and Lindsay, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Nutrition Activities to do with Your Children Nutrition activities that can help teach children healthy choices regarding food, while having fun. Lindsay, A. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, IP
Perceptual Motor Development \| Connecting the Brain & the Body Perceptual motor development connects a child’s perceptual or sensory skills (his brain) to his motor skills (his body) so they can perform a variety of movements and confidently interact with their environment. Lindsay, A. and Byington, T. 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-20-18
Physical Activity Improves Brain and Cognitive Functions Children who are more physically active perform better academically and have better memory and attention. Lindsay, A. and Byington, T. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-20-23
Physical Activity, How Much Is Enough? \| Active Kids Are Healthy Kids Just for Preschoolers and Their Families Lindsay, A. and Byington, T. 2020, Extension,\| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-20-19
Pick of the Crop Oranges This fact sheet contains extensive information on oranges facts and dishes anyone can try. Wilson, M. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-24
Portion Sizes / Tamaño de Porciones Children need smaller quantities of food than adults do for their small bodies. USDA’s MyPlate “rule of thumb” says the serving size for a child should be ½ of an adult’s serving. Many Nutrition Facts labels do not express this. It is up to the adults in their lives to ensure the proper portion sizes. Lindsay, A., & Buffington, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-104
Preschoolers can distinguish between healthy and unhealthy foods: The All 4 Kids Study This study determined changes in preschoolers' ability to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy foods and stated food preferences after participation in a nutrition education program. Sigman-Grant, M., Byington, T., Lindsay, A., Lu, M., Mobley, A., Fitzgerald, N. & Hildebrand, D. 2013, Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 03/2014, Volume 46, Issue 2
Produce Pick of the Month: Cantaloupe Recipe Chef Suzy partners with Produce Pick of the Month to bring you this yummy cantaloupe smoothie recipe that you can try at home. McClain, S. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Produce Pick of the Month: Jicama Recipe Chef Suzy partners with Produce Pick of the Month to bring you this jicama recipe that you can try at home. McClain, S. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Recognizing Developmental Delays in Young Children This factsheet explain developmental delays in young children, concerns, and ways to recognize them. Byington, T. 2010, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-66
Screen Time \| Make Time to Unplug Increased time in front of a screen means less time being physically active, contributing to higher weight and BMI, increased caloric intake & unhealthy food choices. Lindsay, A. and Byington, T. 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-20-21
Sedentary Behavior \| Don't Just Sit, and Sit, and Sit! Being sedentary can result in more sitting and less time spent being physically active which can lead to obesity and greater risk for having diabetes and other chronic health problems as an adult. Lindsay, A. and Byington, T. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-20-20
Shopping with Kids Your Game Plan to Grocery Shopping With Kids Lindsay, A., & Buffington, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-105
Snack & Mealtime Routines A regular routine of meals and snacks helps discourage eating all day, and preschoolers like it because they know what to expect. Lindsay, A., & Buffington, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-103
Statewide Needs Assessment for Nevada's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed), Final Report (Phase 1) SNAP-Ed is a federally funded grant program that supports evidence-based nutrition education and obesity prevention interventions for persons eligible for SNAP benefits. This needs assessment describes the most pressing nutrition and physical activity needs of the SNAP-eligible population in Nevada. Elgeberi, N., Luckey, B., Helm, M. 2022, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, SP-22-16
Systematic Review of Physical Activity Objectives in Extension Strategic Plans: Findings and Implications for Improved Public Health Impact The purpose of the study presented here was to systematically identify the presence of physical activity objectives in the strategic plan for each Extension system in the United States. Harden, S., Lindsay, A., Everette, A., and Gunter, K. 2016, Journal of Extension, 54(5) Research in Brief 5RIB2. Available at: https://www.joe.org/joe/2016october/rb2.php
Talking Positively At Mealtimes - Your Words Matter As your child's caregiver, you play the biggest role in their eating behavior. Buffington, A. and Lindsay, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-90
Teacher and family connections curriculum: A supplement to the All 4 Kids: Healthy, Happy, Active, Fit obesity prevention program. Sigman-Grant, M, Van Brackel, A., Byington, T. and Lindsay, A. 2013, UNCE Publication CM-13-01
Teaching Children To Make Healthy Choices - Empowering Children Through Language If young children are taught early and practice healthy choices, they will make better food choices as they grow up. Buffington, A. and Lindsay, A. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-85
The Amazing Nutritious Papaya This fact sheet contains extensive information on papaya facts and dishes anyone can try. Wilson, M. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-25
The Unbelievable Kiwi This fact sheet contains extensive information on kiwi facts and dishes anyone can try. Wilson, M. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-23
What Is Physical Literacy? \| Early Start, Active for Life A young child who is physically literate is one who has the motivation confidence, knowledge, skills, and fitness necessary to enjoy a physically active lifestyle Lindsay, A. and Byington, T. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-20-13

Learn more about the program's team

Anne R. Lindsay

Program Leader & Contact

Elizabeth Mapula

Program Contact

Kylie Mansanas

Team Member

Cindi Kay Morehead

Team Member