P10: Jumping Jacks with Jill–Nutrition Education Through Entertainment

Abstract

Objective: To quantify the impact of Jumping Jacks with Jill in kids who see the show in a public venue. Use of Theory or Research: Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Tools of unhealthy food advertising, Social Cognitive Theory, Theory of Planned Behavior, and the Health Belief Model. Target Audience: Kids: preschool and elementary. Description: Jumping Jacks with Jill is a live, interactive fitness and nutrition show for kids written and performed by registered dietitian and professional musician, Jill Jayne. Along with Musical Mark, Jumping Jill focuses on energy, exercise, and awareness through song to make messages about health engaging, fun, and memorable. Evaluation: Written surveys were given to parents to report the participating child’s baseline behaviors, parent’s behavioral intention to change what they offer their child based on seeing the show, why they stopped for the show, and why they stayed for the show. Parents asked their children their behavioral intention to change what foods they ask their parents for and if they thought Jumping Jill would improve food and exercise habits. Kids were also asked to report their favorite part of the show and what they learned. Conclusions and Implications: The content of Jumping Jacks with Jill is effectively conveyed through character. According to kids, Jumping Jill helps kids exercise more because of how she looks and talks. Kids were overwhelmingly motivated by mediators of behavior change, though parents underestimated the knowledge learned. Parents were grateful for a reinforcer of what they were teaching at home, demonstrating the power for parents and kids in the use of characters to teach nutrition.