Kids

1
Kids Go for your life
2
Kids Go for your life

• Your early childhood service is part of a
  state-wide initiative to promote healthy eating
  and active play in children aged 0-12

3

• Health issues facing Australian children

4
Childrens Health Report

• 4-5 year old children are watching television, a
  video or a DVD on average for 2.3 hours per day
  and 46 of infants average 1.4 hours per day
• Twice the amount of time is spent in screen
  time than in being active
• 72 of preschool children are driven to
  preschool services

5
Childrens Health Report

• 90 of 4-5 year olds eat high fat foods between
  one and four times in a day
• 80 of 4-5 year olds have fruit juice, soft
  drinks or cordial in a day
• Nearly one third of food and drinks an
  18-month-old child consumes are sometimes
  foods, such as sweetened drinks, biscuits, chips
  and other high energy dense foods.

6

• Consequences
• of unhealthy
• lifestyles

7
Overweight and obesity in primary aged children
1960s 1970s
Overweight in childhood
Obese in childhood
8
Overweight and obesity in primary aged children
today
Overweight in childhood
Obese in childhood
9
Discussion points

• Do we think these overweight and obesity rates
  apply to children in our early childhood service?
  
• Do we see unhealthy habits in our children?

10
Why prevent childhood obesity?

• Obese children risk
• Low self esteem poor body image
• Depression and risk taking behaviour in
  adolescence adulthood
• Physical discomfort medical problems such as
  high cholesterol, glucose intolerance, insulin
  resistance, high blood pressure

11
Why prevent adult obesity and overweight?
Overweight is now the leading cause of premature
death and illness in Australia, ahead of tobacco
smoking
12
Benefits of healthy eating and active play
13
Who can make a difference?
14
Your service can make a difference

• Become a Kids - Go for your life Award Service

15
Healthy messages for children
16
Kids Go for your life award program

• Examples of meeting Award Criteria include
• Increasing active play opportunities for children
• Water bottles and or water available at all times
• Fresh fruit and vegetables as snacks
• Healthier menus and food brought from home
• Play equipment that is flexible and challenging
• Road, car and pedestrian safety encouraged from
  an early age

17
Benefits of the program

• It will recognise our services achievements
• Provide a whole-of-service approach
• Support planning and policy development
• Provide a simple framework for action
• Help coordinate early childhood health
  initiatives

18
Program Support

• Parents, staff and children
• Facts sheets
• Parent tip sheets and newsletter inserts
• Presentations
• Planning resources
• Sample policies and action plans
• Expert advice and local support where available
• Local and state-wide media activities

19
Keys to successful change

• Commitment to childrens wellbeing
• Whole of service approach
• Management, coordinator and staff support
• Kids Go for your life champion
• Committee to drive change
• Linking with local community
• Having family and childrens involvement

20
Discussion Point

• How can the early childhood community members
  support healthy eating and active play habits?
• Staff/carers
• Parents/families
• Children
• Management/proprietors
• Coordinators
• Who else can help?

21
Kids Go for your life www.goforyourlife.vic.go
v.au/kids 1300 854 554