Yoga, eye, speech and teeth health checks, and a screen time policy are all part of the holistic approach to health and wellbeing that is benefiting the educators and students at Goodstart Rutherford.
For the past five years Goodstart Rutherford has offered the NSW Health Munch & Move initiative for children zero to five years.
Munch & Move promotes and encourages children's healthy eating and physical activity and reduces screen time with a fun, play-based approach to supporting healthy eating and physical activity.
For babies, the program focuses on supporting and encouraging breastfeeding and helping introduce first foods. It also encouarges physical activity for babies including supervised floor-based play every day.
As well as a the physical activity program, older children benefit from free speech assessments, dental workshops, eye screening, a healthy eating program and relaxation and yoga sessions.
Educators at the centre are working with parents to develop a screen time policy. By the end of this month, about 50 per cent of the centre’s educators will be trained in the Munch & Move program, thanks to a recently awarded government grant.
Centre director Leisa Pickard said that as well as supporting the health and wellbeing of the children while they’re in the centre, they try to extend the philosophy into students’ homes.
“We keep families updated with all of the current events including photos of their children and what they achieve. We also provide a parent library which contains relevant information on all of the topics,” said Ms Pickard.
For the past five years Goodstart Rutherford has offered the NSW Health Munch & Move initiative for children zero to five years.
Munch & Move promotes and encourages children's healthy eating and physical activity and reduces screen time with a fun, play-based approach to supporting healthy eating and physical activity.
For babies, the program focuses on supporting and encouraging breastfeeding and helping introduce first foods. It also encouarges physical activity for babies including supervised floor-based play every day.
As well as a the physical activity program, older children benefit from free speech assessments, dental workshops, eye screening, a healthy eating program and relaxation and yoga sessions.
Educators at the centre are working with parents to develop a screen time policy. By the end of this month, about 50 per cent of the centre’s educators will be trained in the Munch & Move program, thanks to a recently awarded government grant.
Centre director Leisa Pickard said that as well as supporting the health and wellbeing of the children while they’re in the centre, they try to extend the philosophy into students’ homes.
“We keep families updated with all of the current events including photos of their children and what they achieve. We also provide a parent library which contains relevant information on all of the topics,” said Ms Pickard.