Creating Healthier Places

Bright Horizons Family Solutions

2018 Progress Report

Year Committed: 2017

Length of Commitment: 3 years

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Committed to developing physical activity and gardening curriculums to further encourage outdoor and indoor play. As well as develop chef training and family resources.

Verified Results

Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Complete an assessment of current movement activities, resources, and equipment to identify opportunities to enhance existing materials.
Progress To Date

In September 2017, Bright Horizons conducted a survey to assess 10 current movement activities, resources, and equipment at Bright Horizons centers. A total of 266 out of 700 Bright Horizons centers responded to questions (response rate of 38%) about frequency of structured physical activity, use of physical activity resources, awareness of and participation in training on physical activity, confidence in implementing physical activity curriculum, as well as what additional resources are needed to support physical activity at their center.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Based on assessment, create new or revised activities, resources, and/or equipment that can be applied in a variety of spaces at Child Care centers.
Progress To Date

In February 2018, Bright Horizons offered a Rae Pica webinar in two sessions with a total of 261 participants. The webinar was directed towards Bright Horizons teachers and center directors and focused on the importance of movement and its connection to brain development.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
90% of centers will have implemented new or revised activities and resources and offered age appropriate guided physical activity daily.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Ensure at least 90% of Centers receive training for the implementation of these new or revised activities.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Develop a Chef Training orientation and plan that provides additional resources to cooks to increase early childhood appropriate nutritional information, share best practices, and increased take-up of nutritional standards.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
95% of centers with an employed cook or chef will have received the Chef training orientation and plan with at least 2 hours of training.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Create an online community for cooks/chefs to share best practices and contribute to projects such as menu enhancements.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Provide additional resources and guidance for teachers related to nutritional standards and fostering healthy eating habits, through the Bright Horizons magazine or other communications vehicles at least once a year.
Progress To Date

In 2018, Bright Horizons provided resource suggestions and guidance for teachers on fostering healthy eating and physical activity habits through the Bright Horizons magazine, Spark. In addition, in 2018 Bright Horizons held its first annual Nationwide Recipe Contest to highlight recipes that encourage healthy eating habits in early childhood. Chefs from all Bright Horizons centers were encouraged to submit recipes for the best, healthy, no-bake snack. The winning snack was added to the company's healthy snack menu and featured in the Bright Horizons' Spark magazine.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Provide a corporate audit of the meal ordering and planning at centers and highlight new additional nutritious options or less commonly ordered nutritious items, along with recipes, quarterly.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Complete assessment of current Garden Works enrichment curriculum and utilization of the curriculum.
Progress To Date

In September 2018, Bright Horizons conducted an assessment of gardening at Bright Horizons centers, including assessing use of the Bright Horizons Garden Works curriculum. A total of 156 of the 208 centers that responded to the survey question (75%) were using the Garden Works curriculum at least sometimes.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Based on assessment, develop new materials that include scalable options for both indoor and outdoor gardens managed by school staff.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Ensure at least 90% of centers implement part of the Garden Works enriched curriculum with at least one indoor or outdoor garden at the center.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Ensure materials developed are offered to Center directors and teachers at least twice a year.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Ensure garden offerings include vegetables and herbs that could potentially be utilized by Center cooks in meals, along with related recipes as acceptable per state licensing standards.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Develop "Family Education" resources to better educate parents and guardians on the nutritional standards and health problems implemented by Bright Horizons and to encourage the implementation of these same standards at home.
Progress To Date

Bright Horizons developed three resources to better educate parents and guardians on nutrition standards and health. Resources included: "8 Ideas to Encourage Kids to Eat Healthier Foods", "How to Incorporate STEM in the Kitchen", and "11 Fun, Low-Cost, Outdoor Activities for Kids". Resources were emailed to 220,000 parents and caregivers in August 2018.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
90% of centers report awareness of and access to the Family Education resources.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Ensure new resources developed are offered to centers at least twice a year.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Provide resources and guidance for families related to nutritional standards and fostering healthy eating habits through the Bright Horizons newsletter at least twice a year.
Progress To Date

No update provided.
Implementation Date
May 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Development of a set of criteria and certification process with PHA to certify a center as achieving a high-level of health and wellness for children.
Progress To Date

No update provided.

Partner Statement

“In 2011 Bright Horizons committed our pledge to healthy practices, including nutrition, physical activity and long-standing screen time policies. After meeting, and exceeding, the goals set in our first commitment, we renewed our partnership in 2017. We are always looking to be better, to push ourselves, and striving to do more for the children and families in our care and we knew that PHA would, once again, be the right partner to help us further our goals of ensuring we do all we can to give the more than 800,000 children we serve in our 700+ preschool and early education centers across the US a healthy start in life. We are proud to be working toward meeting the goals of our second commitment with PHA.

"At Bright Horizons we know all development is interrelated and healthy physical development is important in and of itself, and influences children for life, but also influences cognitive and social-emotional development. Through our own Garden Works and Movement Matters curriculum elements we focus on giving children a healthy start to life through exploration of a variety of foods; building large motor skills through yoga and other physical activity; exploring nature through gardening; and more.

"We are enhancing our movement resources for teachers; evaluating a our food options to uncover addition opportunities to increase healthy choices; implementing a chef training program and online community; growing our gardening curriculum and garden to table activities; and offering parents resources to carry our healthy activities from the classroom into their homes. We are also proud to offer child care at the PHA Summit. This year, our revised program, PHA Kids Camp, will provide children of Summit attendees an opportunity to experience the Summit on a smaller scale – including yoga, cooking, garden activities, and opportunities to explore the expo hall.”