Schools Across Santa Clara County Successfully Kicked-Off Our Obesity Prevention Campaign…
An otter named Potter only drinks water, and FIRST 5 Santa Clara County urged Santa Clara County kids to do the same. FIRST 5 used their colorful, English/Spanish rhyming book titled, Potter the Otter: A Tale About Water to entice young children to make the right drink choices and mitigate the epidemic of childhood obesity in Santa Clara County and the nation.
Preschools and elementary schools across Santa Clara County were provided a copy of Potter the Otter: A Tale About Water and students were encouraged to read the book to promote awareness against childhood obesity.
Community leaders also gathered at Ryan Elementary School in the Alum Rock School District and read Potter the Otter: A Tale About Water, to Kindergarten classrooms and talked with the students about making healthier drink choices.
“History tells us that these educational campaigns work. In fact, it may be the only way to turn things around. Many children don’t have an awareness of obesity issues but it is interesting to see how quickly they gain awareness and then start to educate everyone else,” said Dave Cortese, President, Board of Supervisors, Santa Clara County, Third District, who participated in the kick-off and read the storybook to students.
This event was part of the ReThink Your Drink campaign led by FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, along with Kaiser Permanente and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.
“Our children are our community’s most valuable resource and their healthy development should be our highest priority. FIRST 5 created this book because it serves to educate in many ways…parents can read to their children and teachers can read to students. The book also includes fun activities to reinforce the sugar-free messaging. Education enables smart choices and learning through enjoyment is the best way to never forget what we learn,” said Jolene Smith, Chief Executive Officer for FIRST 5 Santa Clara County.
Over 600,000 copies of Potter the Otter: A Tale about Water are circulating throughout by their First 5 County Commissions, schools, child care and health agencies statewide.
