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Healthy lifestyles are important for preschoolers too
Researchers from the University of Wollongong have developed a healthy lifestyles program – called the Time2bHealthy Program – for parents of pre-school children. It is an online program that is completed in the home and is the first of its kind in Australia.
The program lasts nine weeks and takes parents through five modules, which they can work through at their own pace. The online delivery also allows participants set goals and communicate with health professionals and others in the program.
The program provides solutions for questions like: What are the best snacks and drinks for my preschooler? How do I read a food label so I know that I am buying the best snacks? How do I get my preschooler to eat more fruit and vegetables? How much physical activity should my preschooler be doing? How much television should my preschooler watch each day?
“We have just completed the first cohort,” researcher Dr Rachel Jones said. “It was highly successful and parents suggested that the program was easy to use, informative, and provided details about how to make healthy lifestyle changes.”
Parents who went through the program gave positive feedback, saying it had been helpful for learning about day-to-day activities such as television habits and meal times.
"Thank you for the program – it has been helpful, especially learning for the first time about recommended servings per day and serving sizes for preschoolers. Also helpful were all the great suggestions regarding indoor and outdoor activities,” one parent said.
"Congrats on putting together a great program that will make a difference,” another participant said. “It has motivated me and I have learnt a lot about games and the importance of decreasing TV or DVD time."
The next program will start on the 24 August and finish on the 26 October. An information session will be held on the 18 August.
Media information
Parents who have already completed the program may be available to interview/photograph. For more details, and for parents who are interested in finding out more about the research project, contact Michelle Wells at mw988@uow.edu.au or Dr Rachel Jones at rachelj@uow.edu.au or on 4221 3321 or 0402 050 592.