Joan Marsh of East End Magnet Academy in Humboldt, Jessica Anderson of Caywood Elementary in Lexington and Bill Kail of Obion County Central High School in Union City were recently recognized as winners of Le Bonheur Community Outreach's Healthy Incentive Contest.

Food is commonly used as an incentive to reward students for good behavior or academic performance. However, using food as a reward has many negative consequences that go far beyond the short-term benefits of good behavior or performance. Finding alternatives to food rewards is an important part of providing a healthy school environment.

West Tennessee teachers were asked by the Healthy Schools Department at Le Bonheur Community Outreach to submit their ideas for rewards used in the classroom. They were encouraged to get faculty and student input for fun, creative and healthy ways to recognize students.

Ms. Marsh plans to use an outdoor garden as her healthy incentive. Children are rewarded with gardening time as a reward for excellent behavior and school work. The children will be planting flowers and vegetables in their outdoor garden.  She received a $270 gift certificate to a local nursery, a watering can and gardening tools.

Ms. Anderson's idea was for the students to collect miles by walking or running during recess and exercising in class for 20 minutes. Each week the miles are added and marked on the U. S. map. The students also enjoy a healthy snack related to the state they are currently in. Their goal is to reach Hawaii by the end of the year. She will receive $300 to purchase supplies for the celebration luau. The idea was developed by combining the need for students to get fit and to learn map skills and math problem skills.

Mr. Kail will implement a "Fit 4 Life Club" for his 9th grade wellness class. Students will log any physical activity that they are involved in (excluding team sports). At the end of eight weeks, points will be tallied and prizes awarded. Prizes include skating/bowling passes, 1 month membership to a gym, etc.   He received $100 to purchase additional physical education equipment for prizes.

Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center's efforts to care for the region's children extend beyond the walls of the hospital. Le Bonheur Community Outreach addresses the social, economic and environmental factors that threaten children's health and well-being across West Tennessee. Each year more than 500,000 children are touched by programs like Healthy Schools, the Center for Children & Parents, Community HIV Network, Safe Kids Mid-South, Le Bonheur Early Intervention and Development and Therapy Outreach. For more information about Le Bonheur Community Outreach call 1-866-857-KIDS or click here.