goodforkidsgoodforlife Newsletter July September 2014

Teaching n!oyment of "hysical #cti$ity

Quality Standard 2.2, Element 2.2.2 Physical activity is promoted through planned and spontaneous experiences and is
appropriate for each child (National Quality Frameor!"
E#$F %utcome & 'hildren are confident and involved learners (NS( )overnment 'urriculum Early 'hildhood"
*he recently released Active Healthy Kids Australia 2014 Report Card indicates that there is room to
improve children+s physical activity levels.
*eaching children ho to ,e active through structured physical activity has many ,enefits physically, mentally
and socially. - recent presentation ,y .eff /ush!in /P0, Pro1ect Specialist for *he Spark Program identified
further ,enefits such as2
3 strengthening children+s listening s!ills
3 helping children to develop pro,lem solving s!ills
3 teaching children to ,e responsi,le in a group environment
3 alloing children to practice responding to auditory cues
.eff also spo!e a,out the long3 term ,enefits for a child ho is confident ,eing physically active. For
example, an active child is more li!ely to see! out, and ,uild in physical activity as part of their everyday
lifestyle. 4n the short3term, children are learning that participating in a group and interacting socially through
physical activity is lots of fun.
What this presentation taught us: Keep up the great role modelling and include structured activities every
day- the benefits can be amazing.

%ealth Star &ating food labelling' # new tool for
healthier choices in the supermarket
Quality Area 'olla,orative Partnerships ith families and
communities
Quality Sta!dard 2"2, Element 2.2.5 0ealthy Eating is promoted and
food and drin!s provided ,y the service are nutritious and appropriate for
each child (National Quality Frameor!"
-ustralia has recently introduced a ne front3of3pac! food
la,elling system, the 6Health Star Rati!g+ system. 4t has
,een developed ,y -ustralia+s food regulation ministers in
the hope of ma!ing a healthier choices easier in the
supermar!et.
7sing this system, pac!aged food products can ,e la,elled
ith up to five stars depending on their nutritional
composition per 588g or 588m$. *he star la,el includes
details a,out energy, salt, sugar and saturated fat (similar to
the 69 :4+ system already in use" and also highlights if the
product includes any ingredients hich have ,een lin!ed to
health ,enefits (such as calcium or fi,re". See the Healthy
Kids Associatio! e,site for more details.
(ill all products have the stars; No. the front3of3pac!
la,elling system is voluntary for food manufacturers. *his
means there are still plenty of healthy options availa,le that
don+t have this rating. *his includes foods ithout pac!aging,
such as fruit and vegeta,les. 'onsuming a ide variety of
foods from all # $ood groups remains the most important
recommendation for good health for all -ustralians.
0o can it ,e useful; - !ey purpose of this la,elling is to
help shoppers ma!e <uic! comparisons ,eteen similar
products to choose the 6,est+ option. *he ne system may
also encourage food manufacturers to ma!e healthier
products if they desire ,etter ratings.

( )ays of *undamental
+o$ement Skills'
Spotlight on Striking
3 Quality Standard 2.2, Element 2.2.2
Physical activity is promoted through
planned and spontaneous experiences
and is appropriate for each child
3 E#$F %utcome & 'hildren are
confident and involved learners
Educators 3 7se these
components to ,rea! don the
s!ill for detecting = correcting2
5. Stand side on to target, 0old
,at ith ,oth hands, 6straight
arms+
2. >ring ,at ,ac! 6Scratch your
,ac!+
?. Sing and hit ,all 6straight
arms+
&. Follo through ith ,at to
6Scratch other shoulder+
Day 1: Small Groups2 *ie a long
line a,out @ or Am long from one
point to another (or use a tree",
hang a num,er of stoc!ings ith
scrunched up nespaper in the
ends, a safe distance apart.
7sing half a pool noodle,
demonstrate stri!ing to the
:o e need to change our approach for foods sent from
home;
-ll services have their on approach to supporting families
to ma!e healthy food choices for their children and ho your
service decides to use the health star rating system is no
different.
Bating systems can ,e useful tools, particularly for
comparing similar products <uic!ly (eg. different yoghurts or
sandich spreads", hoever they are not ithout limitations.
For example, the health star rating system is designed for
the hole -ustralian population (not specifically for children"
and as the Healthy Kids Associatio! explains, a product
ith high star rating isn+t necessarily recommended to ,e
consumed in large amounts or 6every day+.
%ther guidelines are still useful for choosing healthy, 6every
day+ lunch,ox products. )ood for Cids. )ood for $ife
lunch,ox guidelines are ,ased on the national evidence
,ased recommendations for children. *hese guidelines are
designed specifically to help educators and families identify
healthy pac!aged foods and minimise 6sometimes+ food
choices. *he Australia! %ietary &uideli!es also provide
specific information regarding servi!g si'es a!d !um(er o$
serves re<uired from each food group for children+s health
and ell3,eing.
4mportant factors to consider hen supporting families to
ma!e healthy choices include2
3 Providing clear guidelines ,ased on national, evidence
,ased recommendations for -ustralian children.
3 Providing feed,ac!, consistent ith your service+s
guidelines, to support families to reduce 6sometimes+ foods
hile in care.
children as per the F/S
instructions.
Day : !eachable "oments2 Set
up an o,stacle course for
children to explore. 4ncorporate
the F/S s!ill of stri!ing into one
of the stations ,y hanging
stoc!ings ith scrunched up
nespaper in the ends.
Day #: !ransitions2 4nvisi,le ,ats
or light sa,ersDuse stri!ing as a
transition ,y as!ing children to
pretend they are a ,ase,all
player or a Star (ars characterD
sing = step from one area to
another.
Day $: Group%&ircle !ime2 7se a
song E*his is the ay e sing
our ,ats, sing our ,ats, sing
our ,atsF again chec!ing
children+s form and detecting and
correcting as necessary.
Day ': (in)ing *ith +nterests2
>irthday time ,alloon funGG 0ang
,alloons don so that they are at
a child+s aist level. 'hildren can
then practice stri!ing the ,alloons
ith half a pool noodle or a rolled
up nespaper, hile singing
0appy >irthday.
Source: mailto:Rebecca.J.Thomson=hnehealth.nsw.gov.au@cmail2.com