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Archive for the ‘'Bright Futures'’ Category
Bright Futures Program
Bright Futures
Health and wellbeing sessions for Kids
‘Bright Futures’ Program Background
One of the most pertinent issues in the world today is that of the spiralling physical health of the world’s population. In particular, the issue of childhood health, encompassing both physical exercise and a sound nutritional platform, burns brightly as a current issue that has critically important and potentially far-reaching implications to society, both now and over the next 30 years.
Australia is quickly gaining on the United States as having the highest childhood obesity rates in the world. One in five children or adolescents in Australia are now classified as overweight or obese. If current trends continue, it is predicted that by 2020, 50% of young Australians will be overweight or obese.
This widespread weight problem has a flow-on effect to a wide variety of ailments and conditions - most severely as various forms of cancer and heart disease. Cancer and heart disease are the two single biggest killers in our society today:
Bowel cancer alone kills 5000 Australians per year- 13,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed each year
- Heart disease and associated conditions killed 50,294 Australians in 2002, accounting for 37.6% of all deaths
We firmly believe that the activity and nutritional habits created during the impressionable years of childhood will mould the habits of these children for the rest of their lives. Although reversible, bad habits in these two critical areas are extremely hard to change in the adult years.
The habits formed during childhood stay with an individual for a long time, in most cases for life. The current childhood obesity problem has its roots in a number of areas:
- Technological ‘advances’ in food preparation and food availability
- Continued development and promotion of computer games and associated ‘recreational’ products
- Lifestyle changes / pressures on parents
Obesity is set to become the biggest disease of the century. Health experts say that curbing the alarming rate of childhood obesity could prevent millions of cancer cases and other significant illnesses.
‘Bright Futures’ Program
’Bright Futures’ is a program that we believe is desperately needed at all schools throughout the country. The program can best be described as a ’student welfare program promoting positive lifestyle changes’. Easily able to be adapted to the needs and requirements of individual school groups (with respect to age and year level) ‘Bright Futures’ is an extensive practical education program that covers a wide variety of aspects relating to achieving a healthy and positive lifestyle, including:
- The importance of regular physical activity
- Immediate and long-term benefits that regular exercise will bring
- Positive nutritional habits to promote healthy bodies and immune systems
- Tools and education materials for parents and teachers to use to ensure that good habits are sustained
The ‘Bright Futures’ program is targeted at all school aged children between the ages of 7 and 16 years, with content able to modified dependent on the audience.
‘Bright Futures’ Program Outline
Please note that this outline is intended to give an insight into the scope and range of activities that can be incorporated into the program. Programs can be developed to suit the needs and requirements of individual groups.
Conducted over an 8 week period, the program is conducted as follows:
Session 1 An introduction to a range of ‘game’ based practical exercises designed for enjoyment and challenge. Each ensuing session will contain elements of these, in addition to:
Session 2 Theoretical and practical session that will teach about essential nutrients in food and the requirements of growing bodies.
Session 3 ‘Goal Setting’ - a simple, hands on educational session on how to set goals and implement steps to achieving them.
Session 4 ‘Nutrition for Life’ - educational session that allows children to experience a range of nutritious snacks and understand the benefits associated with healthy eating.
Session 5 ‘Your Bright Future’ - session designed to empower children through visualization techniques.
Session 6 ‘Creating Lifelong Habits’ - session designed to stimulate positive thought patterns relating to exercise and healthy eating, and the effect this can have on self image and self esteem.
Session 7 ‘Positive Lifestyle Influences’ - educational session covering lifestyle factors that contribute to poor health.
Session 8 Program Summary and Wrap-up session including presentation of certificates to students
Anticipated Program Outcomes
Participation in the outlined program will be beneficial to the following groups of people:
- Participating students / children
- School teachers
- Parents and guardians of students
Students
Students will experience fun and exciting sessions that will inspire and educate them about physical exercise and good eating habits, leaving them with lasting impressions and a more positive attitude towards establishing positive lifestyle habits for life. These outcomes can be confidently expected and are based on observation from groups of varying ages who have previously completed similar programmes.
Teachers
Teachers will receive practical guidance through active participation in all sessions, and will benefit by learning valuable skills that can be continued on with students groups for years to come. They will be provided with materials that can be retained and used for continuing education / reinforcement with students.
Parents and Guardians
Students will be presented with a wide range of educational materials that will be beneficial to parents and will cover all the topics covered in the ‘Bright Futures’ program. Parents are probably the most important ‘cog in the chain’ of the whole education and lifestyle improvement process. By educating parents and helping them realise that keeping kids active and healthy may not be as hard as they think, the positive flow-on effect will be seen for years to come, and assist to reverse the worrying current trends.
Cost of Succeed’s Bright Futures Program : $90.00 + GST Per Session
If you would like to contact me, regarding any of our programs or to find out how our staff can contribute to making your school or classroom a healthier one, please feel free to contact Succeed.
I look forward to hearing from you, and working together to decrease obesity levels in your school.
Yours in Health and Fitness.
Scott Williams
CEO, Managing Director, Succeed Personal Development
Email: scott@succeed.com.au
Ph: (02) 6162 4272
