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The Gold Sneaker Initiative

Gold Sneaker Logo

The Gold Sneaker Initiative was developed to enhance policy related to physical activity and nutrition within licensed child care facilities across Tennessee.

Training Materials

Physical Activity Policy

  • Policy 1.1: Children ages 12 months or older attending a full day program shall be offered at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day.  Children attending less than a full day program shall be offered a proportional amount of such activities.  For children ages three and older, at least 30 of the 60 minutes shall be offered as guided physical activity.  The remainder of the physical activity may be other active play, learning and movement activities.  This must be documented on forms provided with the Gold Sneaker initiative.

  • Policy 1.2: Television, video and other visual recordings shall not be used with children two years of age or younger.  For children ages two and older, viewing of television, videos and other visual recordings shall be limited to no more than 60 minutes per day of educational programs or programs that actively engage child movement.  Children attending less than a full day program shall be limited to a proportionate amount of such viewing.  This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies.

  • Policy 1.3: Children shall not be allowed to remain sedentary or to sit passively for more than 60 minutes continuously, except for scheduled rest or naptime.  This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies. 

  • Policy 1.4: Child care facilities must ensure physical activity, if used to control behavior, is used as a positive reinforcement and is never used negatively.  This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies.

Nutrition Policy

Nutrition standards will be enhanced by including additional nutrition policies that must be addressed in order to earn Gold Sneaker recognition. Additional nutrition policy to strengthen the current policy in place will include:

  • Policy 1.5: Ensure appropriate infant and child feeding patterns, including breastfeeding.  Staff will be sensitive to breastfeeding mothers and infants, and their eating patterns.  Each breastfeeding infant will have a feeding plan on file, which is completed by the parent/parents and facility as a team to address their unique feeding patterns.

  • Policy 1.6: Ensure appropriate infant and child feeding patterns, including adequate time for meal consumption.  Adequate time for meals and snacks will be allowed for all children, and will be included in classroom lesson plans. 

  • Policy 1.7: Ensure appropriate infant and child feeding patterns, including appropriate portion sizes.  Appropriate portion sizes will be assured through staff training and will be monitored by random spot checks for each age group on a monthly basis. 

  • Policy 1.8: Food is intended to nourish the body; therefore no food, candy or drink shall be used to control a child’s behavior.  All eating opportunities should consist of a respect for the child and promoting a positive attitude toward food.  This shall be stated in the individual child care facility’s policies.


Enactment of Policy

All policies shall be stated in the individual child care facility's policies and shall be made available to the Department of Health for maintenance of the Gold Sneaker recognition. Voluntary adoption of enhanced policies will be achieved by implementing the Gold Sneaker Initiative. Child care facilities that implement the proposed enhanced physical activity and nutrition policies and include all staff in training will earn a "Gold Sneaker" award which designates them as a "Gold Sneaker" child care facility. Such designation can be used for marketing purposes for the child care facilities, and local organizations will encourage parents to select such facilities. Gold Sneaker training sessions have been added to Child Care Resource and Referral’s menu of training topics. Training attendees will receive forms, instructions, checklists, curricula and materials for implementation in their facilities.

Recognition as a Gold Sneaker facility will include:

  • A certificate of achievement presented by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness
  • Two Gold Sneaker stickers which can be placed on entrance(s) to the facility or used in promotional activities for the facility
  • Access to an electronic Gold Sneaker logo to be used in materials produced by the facility
  • Recognition on the following Web sites: Department of Health, Get Fit Tennessee, and the Gold Sneaker Web sites
  • Inclusion of the Gold Sneaker logo beside the facility's information contained on the Department of Human Services listing of licensed child care facilities and their respective scores

How to sign up

Contact Child Care Resource and Referral Network for training opportunities beginning January 2008.

Day Care Centers Awarded Gold Sneaker Designation

ABC 123 Daycare
7848 Southfork Road
Baxter, TN  38544

Babes in Toyland
1177 W. Green Hill Road
McMinnville, TN  37110

Kiddie Kottage Learning Center
110 Debusk Lane
Knoxville, TN  37922

Kids R Kids
1152 N. Rutherford Blvd.
Murfreesboro, TN  37130

Kingdom Kare Child Development Center
2114 East Broadway
Maryville, TN 37804

Ms Pam’s
4724 Front Street
Cookeville, TN  38501

Partners for Children
714 Cedar Lane
Knoxville, TN  37912

Pierce’s Pooh Bears
304 N. Cedar Street
Gleason, TN  38229

Storybook Lodge
733 Bakertown Rd
Lynchburg, TN  37352

Teddy Bears' Picnic Family Child Care
620 BJs Landing
Estill Springs, TN  37330

The Nanny House
806 Hwy 70 E
Dickson, TN  37055

TLC Day Care Learning Center
300 W. Chilhowie Ave.
Johnson City, TN  37604

West Emory Child Enrichment Center
1035 Emory Church Road
Knoxville, TN  37922

Bright Beginnings Academy
861 Manufacturers Road
Dayton, TN 37321

Nancy's Family Day Care
702 Baker Drive
Lafayette, TN 37083