Parenting at Mealtime & Playtime Resource Toolkit
Please take the pre-survey before using the toolkit.
View a message from Dr. Sarah Adams, PMP Medical Director
The Parenting at Mealtime and Playtime Program (PMP) launched in 2014 with a quality improvement (QI) component. The QI project had 7 waves and trained nearly 300 primary care providers. This Quality Improvement program provided tools for physicians to enhance prevention counseling strategies, become adept at assessing “risk,” and intervene at the earliest possible stage before a child becomes overweight. The project included educational trainings, resources, and practice coaching. In 2021, PMP transitioned to an educational based training program. This will include educational training webinars (live and recorded), new and updated PMP resources, and a PMP toolkit to implement the project into individual practices. The Parenting at Mealtime and Playtime provides tools for best clinical care and health outcomes for children ages birth through 5 years old, and now through adolescence, during routine well child visits, by using developmentally-, age- and behavior- appropriate counseling strategies and handouts from the PMP resources. There will also be a focus on best practices and practice management to help practices navigate challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This toolkit is designed to:
- Childhood obesity in the United States continues to rise and there is a direct risk of being overweight or obese into adulthood
- The first 1000 days (first two years of life) represent a sensitive period or “window of opportunity” for humans to learn to eat healthy, nutritious diets that, among other things, help protect against the risk of childhood obesity.- from birth to 2 years of age - are critical for childhood obesity prevention
- A key aspect of this sensitive period is that it lays the foundation for the development of flavor preferences through life. Because humans are born with an innate taste preference for sweet, and a rejection of sour and bitter (e.g., vegetable) tastes, the first 1,000 days of life represent a very important period for facilitating the acceptance of the bitter flavors that characterize most vegetables and offering a variety of foods as well as repeated exposures helps shape their food preferences and prevent obesity









- The Motivational Interviewing Readiness Ruler helps query families on their readiness and confidence to make behavior changes. The reverse side assists in developing one, SMART goal for families to attempt.
- Dr. Chris Bolling’s Webinar: Motivational Interviewing Based Strategies to Help Parents of Young Children with Promotion of Healthy Nutrition and Activity will guide you through common motivational interviewing strategies as they relate to PMP.
- Webinar: Understanding Weight Stigma - Continue to learn from Dr. Chris Bolling in this brief webinar on weight stigma in your office and why sensitivity and compassion around weight, nutrition, and physical activity discussions are critical to patient wellness.
- Documenting if the child is underweight, healthy weight, overweight or obese
- Reviewing the child’s growth curve
- Assessing the growth trajectory pattern- decreased, maintained, increased
- Assessing family history (diabetes, high blood pressure, hyper lipidemia, heart disease, stroke under 55)
- Documentation of discussing: age-specific diet anticipatory guidance, age-specific physical activity anticipatory guidance, opportunities to improve the patient’s dietary and/or activity habits
- Providing a PMP handout or referring to the mobile app
- Setting a goal
- Discussing a follow-up plan


VIEW FULL DOCUMENT WITH RESOURCES HERE! WELL-CHILD VISITS: WHY IS THIS TOPIC IMPORTANT? Well-child visits help parents make sure their kids and teens are: • On-schedule for all immunizations • Growing and developing properly (hearing, vision, mental health, reproductive health, etc.) Ohio AAP has noticed two concerning trends regarding well-child visits: • Many children skipped their annual well-child visit due to COVID-19 (and parents have yet to reschedule) • Many parents are using sports physicals in place of well-child visits (a child still needs a well-child visit, even AFTER a sport physical) SAMPLE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS • Pediatrician offices are still open during the #COVID19 pandemic and are taking extra safety measures. Call and schedule a well-child visit today! #SafePedsHealthyKids • Your pediatrician is taking extra precautions to ensure that their office is safe during #COVID19, like separating well and sick kids during different times of the day. Help your child stay healthy by scheduling a well-child visit today! #SafePedsHealthyKids • Did you know a sports physical includes a surface physical exam, while a well-child visit provides a thorough head-to-toe examination? Keep your little athlete healthy and schedule a well-child visit today! #SafePedsHealthyKids CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS AND FLU VACCINES IMMUNIZATIONS: WHY IS THIS TOPIC IMPORTANT? • Vaccines are down as much as 73%, largely due to the COVID-19 Pandemic • Vaccination helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases • With COVID-19 transmissions still remaining high, pediatricians say that it is more important than ever for everyone 6 months and older to receive a flu vaccine this flu season. SAMPLE SOCIAL POSTS • @AmerAcadPeds reminds you that anyone 6 months or older should receive a #flushot! Remind your friends and family to make an appointment with their pediatrician to get their children vaccinated #SafePedsHealthyKids • Your @AmerAcadPeds pediatrician's office is safe and ready to give flu shots during the #COVID19 pandemic. Make an appointment for your child today to fight #fluseason! #SafePedsHealthyKids • Vaccine rates are down as much as 73%, largely as a result of the #COVID19 pandemic. Schedule a well-child visit with your pediatrician to keep your child's vaccination record up-to-date #getvaccinated #SafePedsHealthyKids • In-person, routine well-child visits are still recommended for all children during #COVID19, especially children under two years of age to maintain vaccination schedules. We must all do our part to prevent vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks #SafePedsHealthyKids #VaccinateDontIsolate PREVENTION OF TEEN SUICIDE TEEN MENTAL HEALTH & SUICIDE PREVENTION: WHY IS THIS TOPIC IMPORTANT? • Stay-at-home orders and online schooling have created the “perfect storm” for increased mental health issues & suicide risks in teens • The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe stress and anxiety for many teens, which are risk factors for teen suicide • Teens spending more time at home have increased access to potentially dangerous items including firearms, medications, and alcohol SAMPLE SOCIAL POSTS • Suicide is the leading cause of death among Ohio teens and preteens ages 10 to 14 and the second leading cause of death among Ohioans ages 15 to 34. I’m partnering with @OHPediatricians #StoreItSafe teen suicide prevention program to reverse the trend of irreversible actions! • The presence of a firearm at home increases the risk of suicide even among those with no history of depression. Firearms should always be locked away when not under direct control. To learn more about safe firearm storage visit http://ohioaap.org/sisteen #StoreItSafe • 85% of suicide attempts with a firearm are fatal. Many attempts happen during a short term crisis which is why reducing access to lethal means can be effective in prevention. Join the Ohio AAP’s #StoreItSafe program and help be a part of the solution! Checklist:
Webinar: Office Flow. Map out your current clinical flow according to the directions on the last slide of the webinar. Taking time to do this now, will benefit you as you view the next webinar on PDSA cycles and determining tests of change. Office flow symbols can be found here. Webinar: PDSA Using areas identified in your office flow, complete the PDSA worksheet to test a change and improve an area relative to the project or your goals. This worksheet will allow you to evaluate implementation of PMP into your practice. You can find a copy of the PDSA Worksheet here. Checklist: