Self Assessment Questionnaire (Saq): A Part Of Choice Creating Healthy Opportunities In Child care Environments
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The Self Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) is meant to be used by child care center directors, staff, and family child care providers as a first step to help develop and implement nutrition and physical activity policy. It is designed to be brief, easy to use, understand and interpret. It is meant to be a "snap shot" of your child care environment at the moment you are answering the questions. 1. The SAQ has 35 Best Practice statements, arranged in four categories: * Nutrition: Feeding Practices * Nutrition: Food Served * Physical Ac
- 1.Parents receive written nutrition policies upon enrollment.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 2.Parents are informed about what their children are eating.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 3.If food is brought from home, parents are provided with guidelines.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 4.Menus are posted for parents to see.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 5.Meals and snacks are scheduled at regular times.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 6.Portion sizes are age appropriate.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 7.Mealtimes are relaxed, calm and with shared conversation.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 8.Children decide which foods they will eat from the foods offered.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 9.Children are not required to eat all the food on their plates.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 10.Children serve themselves from serving dishes at mealtime.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 11.Children with special needs have their nutrition needs taken into account.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 12.Food is served in a form that young children can eat with minimum assistance and without choking.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 13.Adults sit with children at mealtime.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 14.Adults eat the same foods as children at mealtime.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 15.Foods are served that reflect the ethnicity and cultures of all children in the center/home.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 16.Special occasions and holidays are celebrated with mostly healthy foods or with non-food treats.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 17.Parents are provided a supportive breastfeeding environment.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 18.Water is freely available both indoors and outdoors.
- A.
Already doing
- B.
Making progress in doing
- C.
Planning to do
- D.
Not planning to do
- 19.100% fruit juice is offered:
- A.
1 time per day
- B.
2 times per day
- C.
3-4 times per day
- D.
Never
- 20.Chicken nuggets, fish sticks, hot dogs, corn dogs, bologna or other lunch meat, sausage or bacon
- A.
1 time per week
- B.
2 times per week
- C.
3-4 times per week
- D.
Never
- 21.Whole grain bread, oatmeal, whole grain cereal, brown rice, whole wheat tortillas, corn tortillas or other whole grains.
- A.
1 time per day
- B.
2 times per day
- C.
3-4 times per day
- D.
Never
- 22.Vegetables including fresh, frozen or canned
- A.
1 time per day
- B.
2 times per day
- C.
3-4 times per day
- D.
Never
- 23.Fruit, including fresh, canned in water or own juice, frozen or dried
- A.
1 time per day
- B.
2 times per day
- C.
3-4 times per day
- D.
Never
- 24.Milk served to children ages 2 years and older
- A.
Whole or regular
- B.
2% reduced fat
- C.
1% reduced fat
- D.
Skim or non-fat
- 25.Parents receive written physical activity policy upon enrollment.
- A.
Already Doing
- B.
Making Progress in Doing
- C.
Planning To Do
- D.
Not Planning To Do
- 26.Daily play and planned movement experiences both indoors and outdoors are provided to children.
- A.
Already Doing
- B.
Making Progress in Doing
- C.
Planning To Do
- D.
Not Planning To Do
- 27.Information is provided to parents about their children’s physical activity choices while in child care.
- A.
Already Doing
- B.
Making Progress in Doing
- C.
Planning To Do
- D.
Not Planning To Do
- 28.Staff participate in physical activities with children
- A.
Already Doing
- B.
Making Progress in Doing
- C.
Planning To Do
- D.
Not Planning To Do
- 29.Restriction of play time is not used as a disciplinary tool.
- A.
Already Doing
- B.
Making Progress in Doing
- C.
Planning To Do
- D.
Not Planning To Do
- 30.Activities, equipment and outside play areas are developmentally appropriate and safe.
- A.
Already Doing
- B.
Making Progress in Doing
- C.
Planning To Do
- D.
Not Planning To Do
- 31.Media time for children is used only for educational purposes.
- A.
Already Doing
- B.
Making Progress in Doing
- C.
Planning To Do
- D.
Not Planning To Do
- 32.Training opportunities are provided for staff on physical activity for children.
- A.
Already Doing
- B.
Making Progress in Doing
- C.
Planning To Do
- D.
Not Planning To Do
- 33.Training opportunities are provided for staff on child nutrition.
- A.
Already Doing
- B.
Making Progress in Doing
- C.
Planning To Do
- D.
Not Planning To Do
- 34.Parents are provided information that encourages physical activity at home.
- A.
Already Doing
- B.
Making Progress in Doing
- C.
Planning To Do
- D.
Not Planning To Do
- 35.Parents are provided information on child nutrition and healthy eating.
- A.
Already Doing
- B.
Making Progress in Doing
- C.
Planning To Do
- D.
Not Planning To Do
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