Bendigo Health's 'Healthy Habits for Children'

Nutrition and Physical Activity (5 -12 years) Project 2006

 

The Bendigo Health 'Child Nutrition Survey' project, 2004-2006, identified a need for child nutrition and physical activity training, and improved knowledge of and access to appropriate resources for local primary schools and children's services. The surveys, inclusive of extensive consultation, was developed and coordinated by Kerin Barnard, Community Health Dietitian along with other team members including Fiona Dangerfield, Jenny Harriott, Julie Lake, and Laura Sait.

 

One outcome from the results of the surveys was a professional development workshop for local primary school teachers, conducted in October 2006. The workshop was well attended and proved to be very successful. Each school represented was provided with Bendigo Health's newly developed nutrition and physical activity resource package 'Healthy Habits for Children'.

 

The 'Healthy Habits for Children' resource package is a great way for communities to easily access relevant child nutrition and physical activity information, resources and a CD of recommended websites. The recommended websites section on the CD includes a brief description about the content of each website to provide easier access to information and a helpful hyperlink to each website.

 

The websites referenced target information mainly for schools, services, and families of primary school aged children. However, many are relevant for those working or caring for younger children and adolescents. Bendigo Health's 'Healthy Habits for Children' nutrition and physical activity websites reference document includes, for example:

  • Evidence based information
  • Health promotion information and resources for schools and some children's services
  • Activities for children
  • Information for parents
  • Lesson plans and curriculum information
  • Healthy canteens information
  • Links to useful websites

Bendigo Health Nutrition & Dietetics Department has made the 'Healthy Habits for Children' websites document easily accessible for all. Simply click on the following link:

Bendigo Health Community Dietitian Kerin Barnard, and Nikki Greenway, Public Health student, La Trobe University Bendigo, invested a lot of hard work and energy into the development of the resource package and workshop. This has contributed greatly to the success of the project to date.

 

Please click on the following link for more information about the evaluation of Bendigo Health's 'Healthy Habits for Children' nutrition and physical activity (5-12 years) project 2006. The following document also includes a summary of background research and some healthy eating and physical activity recommendations for children.

For more information please contact:

Community Dietitian, Bendigo Health Nutrition and Dietetics Department ph: (03) 5454 8059.

 
© Copyright Bendigo Health 2008.