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HFH Update 7/2005
Healthy Living Center Updates
The Healthy Living Center project, launched in May 2003 with support from the Toy Industry Foundation's "Power of Play Initiative," provides a model of recreational, informal education which has expanded to five sites nationally. In addition to the original curriculum set focusing on group development, activity curricula have been developed on Music and Health and Wellness. The activities have been designed to engage and develop children's social and creative skills while introducing them to enrichment activities on topics they might otherwise not have an opportunity to explore. As a result of frequent transitions and persistent poverty, homeless children miss out on many opportunities for growth and development and, in particular, lack exposure to "luxury" enrichment activities such as music. In the last several years, funding cuts for music and arts programs in public schools have exacerbated this situation. In the HLC music curriculum, children are exposed to the world of music through seven themed activity cards and accompanying compact discs. The themes include: Listening, Instrument Making, Your Body as an Instrument, The Way You Play, Music and the Other Arts, Composition, and Genre. Through these activities, children are provided with opportunities to explore their creativity, develop their social skills, and learn about the world of music in a fun and recreational setting. The health and wellness curriculum focuses seven themed topics: Food for Thought, Fitness, Healthy Emotions, Healthy Relationships, My Body, Drugs and Alcohol, and It's Our World. The activities provide children with an opportunity to reflect on healthy choices and practice healthy decision-making skills. The activities are tailored for three age ranges: 5-7, 8-11, and 12+, and are designed to address developmental issues appropriate to each age.
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