News

Healthy Start Sampler - November 2023

Healthy Start Sampler – November 2023

Our Healthy Start Sampler newsletter offers examples of activities and information you will find in our downloadable resources.

In this issue:

Discover our new resource : School lunches made easy
Active Play: Freeze Dance, a good indoor exercise
Let’s make roasted chickpeas
Tips and tricks for the Holidays

Our Healthy Start Sampler newsletter offers examples of activities and information you will find in our downloadable resources.

In this issue:

Discover our new resource : School lunches made easy
Active Play: Freeze Dance, a good indoor exercise
Let’s make roasted chickpeas
Tips and tricks for the Holidays

Download Healthy Start Sampler – November 2023

Healthy Start Sampler - June 2023

Healthy Start Sampler – June 2023

Our Healthy Start Sampler newsletter offers examples of activities and information you will find in our downloadable resources.

In this issue:

Playing outside in Spring
Sidewalk Chalk
Hippity Hopscotch
Let’s make Nut Free Trail Mix
Gardening with Children

Our Healthy Start Sampler newsletter offers examples of activities and information you will find in our downloadable resources.

In this issue:

Playing outside in Spring
Sidewalk Chalk
Hippity Hopscotch
Let’s make Nut Free Trail Mix
Gardening with Children

Download Healthy Start Sampler – June 2023

Healthy Start Sampler - May 2023

Healthy Start Sampler – May 2023

Our Healthy Start Sampler newsletter offers examples of activities and information you will find in our downloadable resources.

In this issue:

Playing outside in Spring
Sidewalk Chalk
Hippity Hopscotch
Let’s make Nut Free Trail Mix
Gardening with Children

Our Healthy Start Sampler newsletter offers examples of activities and information you will find in our downloadable resources.

In this issue:

Playing outside in Spring
Sidewalk Chalk
Hippity Hopscotch
Let’s make Nut Free Trail Mix
Gardening with Children

Download Healthy Start Sampler – May 2023

Healthy Start Sampler - Spring 2023

Healthy Start Sampler – Spring 2023

Our Healthy Start Sampler newsletter offers examples of activities and information you will find in our downloadable resources.

In this issue

Tips on Outdoor Play
Active Play: Tricky Tracks in the Snow
Let’s make a Dinosaur Dip
Tips on Nutrition: Trying New Fruits and Vegetables

Our Healthy Start Sampler newsletter offers examples of activities and information you will find in our downloadable resources.

In this issue

Tips on Outdoor Play
Active Play: Tricky Tracks in the Snow
Let’s make a Dinosaur Dip
Tips on Nutrition: Trying New Fruits and Vegetables

Download Healthy Start Sampler – Spring 2023

Enfants faisant de l'exercice

Highlights of our most recent survey

In November we reached out via survey to childcare centres and home daycares in Saskatchewan that took part in Healthy Start during over past three years. We were happy to learn that 100% of the centres and homes that responded are still using the Healthy Start program today. Thank you to the centres that took the time to fill out our survey, and to all the early years educators who are making a positive difference in the lives of young children. A few highlights from the survey: Healthy Start concepts still used in childcare centres and home daycares healthy eating concepts – 85% increased opportunities for physical activity – 70% lasting menu changes – 50% Respondents also indicated that elements of the Healthy Start program are used regularly in centres and homes daily – 40% a few times a week – 40% a few times a month – 20%”  

Healthy Start Gala Départ Santé - 2020

Healthy Start Gala

To celebrate the completion of Phase 3 of its Healthy Start/Départ Santé (HSDS) bilingual program, the Réseau Santé en français de la Saskatchewan organized a recognition gala in Saskatoon on February 13, 2020. The event brought together about 45 people who have contributed to the success of this initiative over the years. The Gala was an opportunity to celebrate the progress made since the initiative was first envisioned in 2007. Gabrielle Lepage, who until recently was the manager of HSDS, presented a time line of the program outcomes and successes. Over the years, the program has reached 32,000 people, including children, parents and early childhood workers, in more than 255 child care and family support centers, including 40 in New Brunswick. These achievements were made possible thanks to the concerted efforts of HSDS staff, partners and supporters from the sectors of academia, community, government and early childhood. Thank you to everyone who has been involved with this dynamic program! The gala was also an opportunity to recognize the contribution of the many people who have collaborated in the program since its inception. Certificates of recognition were given to the following people: Roger Gauthier, Réseau Santé en français de la Saskatchewan Gabrielle Lepage, Healthy Start Erica Stevenson, Healthy Start Nathanael Paquin, Active Kids Anne Leis, RSFS and College of Medicine, Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan Linda Martin Nathalie Waddell, Active Kids Sylvie Desjardins, Université de Moncton Cindy Lévesque, New Brunswick Government Mathieu Bélanger, Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick Stéphanie Ward, Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick Nazmi Sari, Department of Economics, University of Saskatchewan Hassan Vatanparast, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan Christine Nisbet, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan Se’era Anstruther, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan Louise Humbert , College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan Nazeem Muhajarine, College of Medicine, Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan Amanda Froehlich Chow, College of Medicine, Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan Rachel Engler-Stringer, College of Medicine, Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan Kavitha Ramachandran, College of Medicine, Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan  

Healthy Start Gala Départ Santé

Heathy Start Gala Départ Santé

On February 13, the Réseau Santé en français de la Saskatchewan will hold a gala to celebrate the collective achievements of the past and current individuals and groups that have contributed to Healthy Start. It will be an occasion to look back and recognize the hard work and innovation that has shaped this unique initiative. We will also look to the future as the program, initiated in 2006, begins a new chapter in 2020. For more information, please contact: Allysha Larsen [email protected] Office: 306-653-7454 Cell: 306-850-6684

Halloween

Balanced Advice on Trick or Treating

Many parents worry about their kids consuming too much sugar around Halloween. Parents may try to restrict and avoid Halloween candy to protect their children from eating too much sugar at this time of year. While the intention to reduce sugar is positive, being overly restrictive about Halloween candy may deprive kids not only of enjoyment but also a learning opportunity. Studies have shown that kids who have regular access to treats actually eat less high-sugar, high-fat food. Dietician Ellyn Satter describes it this way, “Children who have regular access to sweets and other forbidden foods eat them moderately. Children who don’t have regular access load up on them when they aren’t even hungry.” Ellyn Satter offers a balanced approach for navigating the Halloween candy stash: When he comes home from trick-or-treating, let him lay out his booty, gloat over it, sort it and eat as much of it as he wants. Let him do the same the next day. Then have him put it away and relegate it to meal-and snack-time: a couple of small pieces at meals for dessert and as much as he wants for snack-time. If he can follow the rules, your child gets to keep control of the stash. Otherwise, you do, on the assumption that as soon as he can manage it, he gets to keep it. Offer milk with the candy, and you have a chance at good nutrition. Satter encourages parents to treat Halloween as a learning opportunity, with the goal of the child being able to manage their own candy stash. In our society where sugar and treats are widely available, learning to self-regulate sugar intake is a healthy skill to have in life. So this Halloween, have fun and help children learn moderation through a balanced approach to candy.

Participants in the Healthy Start for Families Facilitators workshop offered on September 21, 2019

HS for Families Facilitators Workshop in Saskatoon

The Healthy Start Team offered our first Facilitator Workshop to equip facilitators to deliver Healthy Start for Families sessions. On September 21, 2019 in Saskatoon we welcomed 13 participants from 7 community organizations, both urban and rural who shared similar goals of offering family engagement programming with a health and wellness focus to the families in their communities. Each organization received information on the Healthy Start for Families program model, a Facilitator Guide, a Toolkit of resources, and an Active Play Equipment kit for their sessions. Facilitators experienced demonstrating a session for the group. During the workshop, facilitators also participated in 4 culinary activities and 4 physical activities that could easily be done with families and early years children. Healthy Start for Families is an adapted version of the Healthy Start program targeting parents, guardians and children ages 0-5 years. The program consists of a series of interactive, kid-friendly activities and cooking sessions, offered free of charge at participating early years centres, local family resource centres or community based organizations. Upcoming Facilitator Workshops for Healthy Start for Families are set to take place in southern Saskatchewan during the month of November in Carlyle or Moose Jaw. For more information on Healthy Start for Families: https://healthystartkids.ca/training/healthy-start-for-families/

HSDS Training Now Available Online

PRESS RELEASE – Septembre 16, 2019 – Thanks to a partnership between the Continuing Education of the Université de Moncton, Moncton campus and the Saskatchewan French Health Network (RSFS), the bilingual Healthy Start/Départ Santé (HSDS) training program is now available online. Since its inception in 2012, the HSDS professional development program has trained more than 2,600 early childhood educators to help them integrate healthy eating and physical activity into early childhood settings. Gabrielle Lepage-Lavoie, Manager of the Healthy Start Program, said: “This initiative will make the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating even more accessible to early childhood workers across Canada. We are proud of the quality product that is available and look forward to sharing it with childcare educators and health care professionals working with young children. » Sylvie Desjardins, Professional Development Officer at the Continuing Education, is pleased to see the addition of this new course to their schedule: ” The Continuing Education of the Université de Moncton is proud to partner with the RSFS on this project. I am convinced that making Healthy Start widely available through an interactive and accessible learning platform will make a difference by helping more early childhood professionals access practical tools to promote physical activity and healthy eating, which are essential components for optimal child development. » The development of the online training began in 2017 with the New Brunswick Medical Training Centre, affiliated with the University of Sherbrooke. The University of Moncton’s Learning Technology Group was responsible for technical and pedagogical development of the online platform, in collaboration with the Department of Education Early Childhood Development of New Brunswick. The HSDS training is now integrated to the Department’s introductory online modules for Early Childhood Education. To learn more about Healthy Start online training, visit our online training page: https://healthystartkids.ca/training/healthy-start-online-course/ HSDS was developed by the RSFS – Saskatchewan French Health Network in collaboration with its partners in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick; the program is funded by the Public Health Agency and the Saskatchewan Government – Community Initiatives Fund.

Interested in hosting Healthy Start for Families sessions?

We are currently looking for organizations that want the opportunity to offer family based programming in Saskatchewan. A Healthy Start for Families session is designed for parents or guardians and children ages 0-5 years (siblings are welcome.) The program consists of a series of interactive, kid-friendly activities and cooking sessions, offered free of charge at YOUR early learning centre, local family resource centre or community based organization. Your facilitators will be able to offer the Healthy Start for Families program as a stand-alone program or adapt similar programs/sessions already offered by your organization to include our health and wellness model for families. The upcoming workshop is designed to equip facilitators at centers or community based organizations who have some experience delivering hands-on sessions with healthy eating or physical activities or have experience with working with families with young children. We are offering: A free one day workshop to equip facilitators to deliver Healthy Start For families sessions. Resources and the opportunity to practice developing session outlines for your families. Session outlines, physical activities, recipes, facilitator manual and more! Financial help is available to assist participating organizations to offset partial costs associated with running sessions. Where: Throughout Saskatchewan. When: Fall 2019 Confirmed Date and Locations:  September 21, 2019 in Saskatoon We will be selecting more locations to host additional workshops where there is interest. So don’t delay, apply today! If you are interested in applying for members from your organization for the Healthy Start for Families Facilitator Workshop Click here. Space is limited!  Feel free to share with others in your network who may be interested. Applications are still open and will be considered for the workshop on September 21 in Saskatoon.  

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