Search the Site

CATCH researchers continue to gather evidence that reaching children at a young age improves chances of embracing healthy messages and behaviors for a lifetime.

CATCH Early Childhood (CEC) is designed to nurture a love of physical activity, provide an introduction to classroom-based gardening and nutrition, and encourage healthy eating in children ages 3-5. Little ones are motivated to walk, run, jump, dance and move their whole bodies while playing and having fun.

CATCH is an official partner of the National Head Start Association, and partnered with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to distribute sun protection education to early childhood programs. To learn more about Ray and the Sunbeatables™: A Sun Safety Curriculum, visit sunbeatables.org. Additionally, CATCH Healthy Smiles, an evidence-based and evidence-informed curriculum to help children adopt positive oral health habits is available for free. Curriculum is easy to implement and each Pre-K carpet time activity is aligned to a National Head Start standard.

Early Childhood Brochure 

Early Childhood Evidence Base

 
 
 

CATCH Early Childhood Includes:
  • Tools to successfully develop and implement a fun nutrition and PE/activity program
  • Convenient and flexible lesson plans featured in a manual with removable pages for easy duplication and sharing
  • A sample schedule to aid in lesson planning
  • Activity cards that promote moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)
  • Relaxation and stretching exercises to assist with cool-downs and transition back to the classroom
  • Parent Tip Sheets to take home that encourage family involvement


Get Started

Purchase

Coordination Kit (Free)

CATCH Early Childhood Physical Activity & Nutrition Curriculum

Ray and the Sunbeatables® + Be Sunbeatable™ (Free)

CATCH Healthy Smiles (Free)

Preview

Coordination Kit (Free)

Curriculum | Good Food Kids

Curriculum | Garden Kids

Physical Activity Pack: Making it Happen

Physical Activity Pack

Ray and the Sunbeatables® + Be Sunbeatable™ (Free)

CATCH Healthy Smiles (Free)


Pre-K Program in Action

Considering CATCH for a Head Start?

CATCH Meets Head Start Standards (PDF)

CATCH researchers continue to gather evidence that reaching children at a young age improves chances of embracing healthy messages and behaviors for a lifetime.

CATCH Early Childhood (CEC) is designed to nurture a love of physical activity, provide an introduction to classroom-based gardening and nutrition, and encourage healthy eating in children ages 3-5. Little ones are motivated to walk, run, jump, dance and move their whole bodies while playing and having fun.

 

“The CATCH Early Childhood program is unique because the classroom curriculum includes stories with puppets and activities that really resonate with 3, 4, and 5 year old children. Our nutrition activities for preschoolers share important nutrition concepts and are crafted so that they can be used in any pre-school learning center. Children have fun as they learn about healthy eating; and the PE activities, which come with music, keep kids and teachers moving and singing.”

— Shreela Sharma, PhD, RD, LD Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Assistant Director, Dietetic Internship Program Michael and Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living

 

Healthy Body Activities for Preschoolers


en_USEN
es_MXES es_COES_CO swSW hi_INHI en_USEN