A new national initiative aimed at tackling childhood inactivity and promoting healthier lifestyles got off to an energetic start on Friday, as pupils of St Lucy Primary School became the first to benefit from Project ACTIVE.
The youngsters were treated to an afternoon of action and exercise as the Barbados Physical Therapy Association (BPTA) selected the northern school as the launchpad for Project ACTIVE, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition.
Physiotherapist Marita Marshall explained to Barbados TODAY that the initiative was designed to encourage healthier lifestyles among children while making exercise enjoyable and engaging.
Physiotherapist with the Barbados Physical Therapy Association, Marita Marshall. (LG)
The programme is to continue at two other schools in the coming weeks while organisers also prepare to launch an online competition aimed at getting more Barbadians involved in physical activity. The next school visits will take place at Irvine Wilson School on June 5 and Blackman Gollop Primary School on June 25, Marshall said.
“We’re hoping to get the general public and the whole of Barbados and all children, everybody really involved, by launching an online competition very soon,” Marshall said.
Project ACTIVE was also intended to complement existing healthy lifestyle initiatives already being promoted within schools:
“We are really trying to support and strengthen the school nutrition policy, which is already in place, by letting children, parents, teachers, everybody understand that there is a physical activity component to improving health and wellness and well-being, and also helping children to learn healthy habits.”
Pointing to growing concerns about sedentary lifestyles among children, Marshall stressed the importance of encouraging movement and exercise from an early age.
“Our slogan is healthy habits, happy kids, and we really want to get away from the children sitting on their phones playing all day, getting them to understand that exercise and physical activity can be fun. It is good for you. It is healthy, and to also support the school nutrition policy that’s already in place, which is promoting healthy eating in schools.”
The physiotherapist also encouraged members of the public to follow the BPTA’s social media pages for updates on the upcoming online competition designed to promote movement and activity islandwide.
Students race to be the first to complete a challenge. (Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham/Barbados TODAY)
Teachers and the Project ACTIVE team also participated in the activities on Friday. (Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham/Barbados TODAY)
Students of Reception, Infants A and Infants B at St Lucy Primary engage in healthy competition. (Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham/Barbados TODAY)
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