More than 20 per cent of children in the UK are overweight and 9 per cent are clinically obese. With these statistics and the threat of heart disease or strokes in later life, the need to get children exercising has never been greater. But currently up to 60 per cent of nursery and school-age children fail to get the recommended one hour of physical activity each day.
It is not just exercise that counts. That old adage 'you are what you eat'
has a huge impact on health too.
That is where Stretch-n-Grow - a fitness programme for pre-school children - comes in.
It was developed in Texas more than ten years ago to get children exercising and improve balance, co-ordination, strength, flexibility, rhythm and spatial awareness. But it also taught them the benefits of healthy eating and nutrition.
The programme came to Britain four years ago. According to Stretch-n-Grow director Tanya Davie, the goal of the programme is simple - to give British children a healthy exercise and nutritional foundation to improve their health and the health of future generations.
'We offer a programme that encompasses not just physical activity, but teaches health and safety and boosts self-esteem in a fun way,' she says.
She says that it is easy for nurseries to adopt the programme.
'We bring everything the nursery could need,' she says. 'We bring a stereo and music, bean bags, pom-poms - any equipment the session requires.'
Each class lasts 45 minutes and covers a different topic. Focus points of each session include the body, heart and brain, the muscles, healthy eating, germs and hygiene, and visiting the doctor and dentist. The programme also looks at what children should do in an emergency, and at health and safety in the home.
Each class begins with a short poem followed by a warm-up, when the instructor tells a story while the children perform the actions.
'If a nursery is covering a particular topic at the time, then we can devise something to go alongside that,' explains Tanya.
Next comes the aerobics session using the props, when the children learn about how their body works and the names of all the muscles they are using.
After this, it is time to cool down. The children sit down for the discussion topic.
'We talk to the children about anything from nutritious foods to how to brush their teeth properly,' says Tanya. 'We also talk to them about health and safety at home, and send them home with a fact sheet to discuss with their parents.'
One nursery using the programme is Teddies Nurseries in Knutsford in Cheshire. Manager Sarah Lowry says, 'Stretch-n-Grow isn't just a physical activity programme, it is more of a package.'
All the children aged over two-and-a-half take part in the sessions, and Sarah says that she has seen them blossom.
'One girl had had difficulty settling in,' she says. 'But once we introduced Stretch-n-Grow, she couldn't get through the door fast enough on a Thursday!'
Sarah believes this is down to the repetition element of the programme.
While the children learn something new every week, the instructor also repeats many of the same moves. This helps to build confidence and self- esteem as the children soon realise they can do this and are good at it.
'The teaching is also good in raising children's awareness of diet,' she says. 'With diet-related health problems such as diabetes and heart disease on the increase, programmes like Stretch-n-Grow are so important. They help to make children aware of how they can stay healthy inside and out.'
According to current medical opinion, the health of our nation is disturbingly poor. But with programmes like Stretch-n-Grow building good habits in the young, the future could be fit after all.
Further information
* Stretch-n-Grow has a three-year curriculum and runs throughout the year.
The instructor comes to the nursery and brings all the equipment needed.
* The programme costs 4.50 per child per session, payable every ten weeks.
* For more information or a free demonstration class, call Tanya Davie on 01625 590 011 or log on to www.sng-england.com.
