A healthy step in the right direction for young children

Young children, parents and grandparents in the Southern area recently attended a ‘Healthy steps for life’ workshop in the newly opened Seashell Centre, Kilkeel. The workshop highlighted the importance of promoting healthy eating and being active for the under fives. 

‘Healthy steps for life’ is a Public Health Agency (PHA) funded programme to promote healthy lifestyles in early years and to reduce the growing rates of childhood obesity.

The workshop was delivered in conjunction with South Down Family Health Initiative. It included three main elements – providing information on healthy eating and the importance of active play; increasing parents’ and grandparents’ skills in these areas; and providing resources for them to use at home. The workshop also included information on supporting breastfeeding in communities and looking after young children’s teeth.

Orlaith Moley, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Senior Officer, PHA, said: “The foundations for a healthy life are heavily influenced by what happens in the first few years. This ‘healthy steps for life’ initiative aims to encourage a range of healthy habits at a young age, including the importance of good nutrition and physical play and movement.”

Parent Sharon Graham, who attended the workshop, said: “I really enjoyed the workshop and got to ask lots of questions about offering suitable drinks and snacks for my children. Furthermore, we were given physical activity equipment to take home and were taught how to use these effectively, with our children.”