Learning healthy habits at school

Teaching children healthy habits is the focus of the Take the Challenge program being started in some Bunbury schools.

Picture by Erienne Lette: Parkfield Primary School Year 2 students Connor Gelmi and Kayleigh Visser, both 7, are loving the chance to spend more time outside as part of a school health program.

More than 1400 students are participating across the South West. The challenge sees classes choose one of several virtual routes to travel during the eight-week challenge which has multiple destinations placed on a map.

For every 15 minutes of exercise they put a sticker on the route and when they reach each destination they have a health lesson.

Parkfield Primary School has blitzed other Bunbury schools with six classrooms signed up to participate in the challenge.

Year 2 teacher Mary Reed said it was important that young children were learning healthy eating and exercising habits early.

‘‘Our children aren’t as active as they used to be,’’ she said.

‘‘They are often in front of televisions and things.

‘‘This program is great because they love getting outside and are loving this program.’’

Ms Reed said the children loved skipping on the oval, which tied in with their Jump Rope for Heart programs.

‘‘The other part of it is continuous education,’’ she said.

‘‘So we always tell them to drink more water and they have water bottles on their desks.

‘‘We also promote fruit and brain foods during the day.’’

For more information about the program www.det.wa.edu.au