Appetite to Play
Courses to support a range of Community Facilitators
Who Should Take this Course?
This course is useful for anyone who works with parents and caregivers of children 0-6 years of age in creating healthy eating and physical activity opportunities for children....that we call Community Facilitators.
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You may be a healthcare or health promotion provider such as public health nurses or primary care providers.
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Your may run programs for parents such as baby & me, parent & tot programs or parent groups.
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You may provide outreach programs or home visits for families who need some extra support.
What's in the Training?
This training provides you with evidence-based knowledge, and best practices for bringing this information to parents in a culturally-sensitive, trauma-informed manner.
In this training you will receive a toolkit (of 6 20-minute workshops and a suite of handouts) and supporting information on HE and PA and how to bring this information to parents.
At the end of the training, you are welcome to use the information and tools provided in community-based group supports, as well as 1:1 in-home consultations.
The full program will take you 4-6 hours to complete the online training.
It is recommended that you then practice your training, rehearse in-person and virtually before you host workshops for families in your community.
Why Physical Activity?
It is important for parents and caregivers to encourage and support their children's play and physical activity. This can be done by providing safe and stimulating play environments, setting aside time for active play, and being active role models themselves.
In addition, physical activity and active play can help to improve children's mental health. It can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and promote positive self-esteem and confidence.
Playing outside and being active also provides children with opportunities to explore and discover their environment. They can learn about nature, science, and the world around them through play. This can help to spark their curiosity and love for learning.
The training modules will provide you with information to share with parents about how to do this and more information on all these topics.
Why Food & Feeding?
A variety of nutritious food in the first five years helps the brain grow and develop and supports the development of social skills, food literacy and a positive relationship with all types of food.
We have a very changed environmental from 30 or 40 years ago with much more marketing and advertising ( especially of highly processed foods) and lower intake of foods like vegetables, fruit and whole grains, which are key to preventing disease and giving our bodies the nutrients they need.
Supporting parents to prepare food at home for and with their children is an important way to increase connection to our food, the intake of nutrients we all need for optimum health and even save money.
Learning about food can prepare young children for a lifetime of eating well by equipping them with the beginning skills to grow, select and cook food. The more exposure children get to a variety of food, the more likely they are to try new foods and eat well to support their bodies needs.
The training modules will provide you with information to share with parents about how to do this and more information on all of these topics.
Land Acknowledgement:
We are grateful to all the First Nations who have cared for and nurtured the lands and waters around us for all time, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) on whose unceded and ancestral territory the Child Health BC head office is located.