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Early childhood services

Healthy children's settings

Early childhood services are important places where children learn to develop healthy eating and active play habits for life. Every kindergarten, child care centre and family day care schemes can make a difference to the health of children by supporting the six healthy messages of Kids - 'Go for your life' and joining the Kids - 'Go for your life' Award Program. Early childhood services'

The six healthy messages
The Kids - 'Go for your life' six healthy eating and active play messages have been selected as key habits to improve the health of Victorian children. Read more...

Make a difference to children’s health

There are many important reasons (51kb, pdf) to promote these healthy behaviours.
Early childhood is a critical period for social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. Establishing healthy eating and active play in early childhood provides has significant health consequences (99kb, pdf) for lifelong health.
Creating healthy habits in children requires action from the whole community. Services can make a difference (210kb, pdf) to children’s health by creating healthy settings that support healthy eating and active play.
Support the healthy messages by joining the Award Program and getting involved in the healthy message campaign.

Join the Award Program
Make healthy eating and active play a positive, normal and easy part of every child’s day by joining the Award Program. Every Victorian kindergarten, childcare centre and family day care scheme can sign up for the free program.

Member services are provided with:

A simple guide to create a healthier environment for children.
Free support materials including a starter pack, member CD, posters, family tip sheets, newsletter inserts and more.
Membership certificate.
A free outdoor sign on becoming an Award Service.

Find out more about the award program and get answers to frequently asked questions.

Partner Programs
The following Kids – ‘Go for your life’ partner programs support early childhood services to promote healthy lifestyles and become a Kids – ‘Go for your life’ Award Service.

Start Right Eat Right
The Start Right Eat Right program delivered by Lady Gowrie Child Centre, provides a guide for child care centres to enhance ongoing staff training, develop and evaluate food and nutrition policies and improve communication with families. Read more…

Smiles 4 Miles
Smiles 4 Miles is an initiative of Dental Health Services Victoria, working in partnership with local organisations to improve the oral health of the youngest children in our community. The key organisations are local Councils – especially Child and Family services, allied health professionals, such as dietitians and speech therapists, local Aboriginal organisations and local dental services. Read more…

Find out about more programs and resources to support your service by joining up as a Kids - 'Go for your life' member. Read more...

Additional information
For health professionals

Award Program summary (66kb, pdf)
Get support to work with the Award Program in services through the Kids - 'Go for your life' Health Professional Network

Useful links

Contact Us
For further information about the Award Program in early childhood services please contact Kids - 'Go for your life' on 1300 73 98 99 or email: kgfyl_ey@dav.org.au

Return to the Kids - 'Go for your life' homepage.

Acknowledgement

This information has been sourced from Diabetes Australia Victoria & The Cancer Council Victoria.

Last updated: 06/17/2009

'Go for your life' Infoline - 1300 73 98 99