Big Way Of Life

Arguably the most important thing in ensuring people, and especially children, eat the right foods is education. It’s all very well saying ‘eat this’ or ‘don’t eat that’, but unless it’s actually taken in, it’s pointless.

Those at the Play, Learn and Grow Healthy Team have been asking children some important questions and asking about what activities they take part in, and the results are very encouraging.

When asked at Phase 1 of the project the answers were already very positive but at Phase 2, they are even better.

When children were asked to give a response to the statement ‘I like fruit’, over 80% answered ‘agree a lot’, while less that 10% said ‘I don’t agree’.

They were also well informed about how much fruit they should eat a day. Over 60% knew that you should eat five pieces a day, although no-one answered less than four.

And they have all been an active bunch too, taking part in a variety of sports and exercise. Over 90% of children said, that in the previous week, they had gone running or walking. Many of the children also took part in trampolining (around 80%), cycling (about 75%) and swimming (about 65%).

All of the activities, aside from gardening, saw an increase in participants from Phase 1 to Phase 2.

The project have also set up a ‘buddying’ scheme in which the 10 and 11-year-olds use resource cards which give them activities to do with the younger children. They have been evaluating the first set of cards, based on ‘physical activity’ and the feedback has been excellent.

Project manager, Karen Pereira said: “The cards and activities have gone down really well, everyone is really impressed with them. We have also had a lot of positive comments from people outside the project. And the kids seem to be getting a lot out of it too so that’s great.”

The project are now busy delivering the second set of resources based on ‘nutrition’ and hope these will be as successful as the first.

Here’s what one of the participants had to say about the project:

“Since attending the PLGH project I cook more at home with Mum and I have become more aware of healthy food and exercise. At the club I made dips with chives, carrots, celery and cucumber and they all loved the stuffed eggs!”

So, they have been active little sprites over in Carmarthenshire but they’ve also been flexing their artistic muscles too. Have a look at this great fruit and veg poster by 8 year-old Rebecca.

The PLGH project is a new 3-year BIG Lottery funded, research project led by Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs and working in partnership with Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin and Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association. Whilst working primarily with children aged 7/8 years and 10/11 years through a ‘buddying’ scheme, it will extend to reach younger children aged from 2 upwards and their families.