Ways to cultivate healthier habits in kids

This article is more than 12 months old

Feb 24, 2017 06:00 am

Here are some recommendations by NurtureSG to foster healthier habits in the young:

ACTIVE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Enhance requirements for outdoor physical activities in preschools to cultivate young children's interests in physical activities and prevent early onset of myopia
Double minimum daily time for physical activities for full-day programmes to an hour a day, of which 30 minutes is to be conducted outdoors
More opportunities for students to be engaged in unstructured play beyond the formal curriculum time
Engage Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) students as in-house instructors to conduct activities like adventure-based classes for fellow students to encourage higher interest and take-up in physical activities
Structure physical activity sessions beyond Physical Education lessons for students in mainstream schools
Develop a resource package for parents so that they can access important information on how to help their children towards healthier living
Involve parents in their children's physical activity programmes
More family-themed activities and group aerobics fitness exercises in the community

All educational institutions to make healthier food options readily available and pervasive
Nutritional requirements in preschools to be enhanced, like prohibiting sugary drinks and deep-fried, preserved food
Canteens in IHLs to serve healthier meals by FY19

Train students to look out for peers in distress and make timely referrals to adults or professionals for further support
Equip preschool educators with the knowledge and understanding of socio-emotional development in young children, and skills on building social-emotional competencies
Funding from Tote Board to support upstream programmes to build mental resilience among the young
Setting up an inter-agency research workgroup to study suicidal and self-harm behaviours in children and youth up to 35 years of age

Raise public awareness of the importance and benefits of adequate and quality sleep, with sleep health recommendations
Strengthen sleep health messages and good practice