Childminders Celebrate a Healthy Start
The National Childminding Association (NCMA), which promotes quality home-based childcare for the benefit of children, families and communities, and the British Heart Foundation (BHF), are joining forces for National Childminding Week 2006 (17-24 June).
The Week - entitled Food, Fitness and Fun - will raise awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle for children from an early age
Liz Bayram, NCMA 's Chief Executive, said
"Registered childminders provide childcare and early education for over 360,000 children in England and Wales and one of the important ways they do this can be by encouraging the children to have a healthy lifestyle. By working with BHF, this year our National Childminding Week will mean NCMA 's 50,000 members (both childminders and nannies) will receive lots of new and fun ideas on fitness and food, to help them in this important aspect of their work.
"We are delighted to be working with the BHF and, thanks to their expert input, we will be producing guides on fun exercise activities and healthy eating, as well as proposing "get active" community events our members can organise for children and their families. Children deserve the best start in life and research shows that good health in childhood is an important building block for good health in later life. Childminders and nannies play an important part in ensuring this healthy start and National Childminding Week 2006 celebrates this. "
Nicki Cooper, Head of Education at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said:
"Everyone who influences a child 's health, from parents to childminders, has a crucial role in looking after their heart health. With a further 440,000 UK children predicted to become overweight or obese in the next two years, we are passionate about tackling this threat to future generations.
We are delighted to be sharing our resources promoting healthy eating and active play to make these essentials a fun and easy part of everyday life for kids and adults alike."
During National Childminding Week 2006, hundreds of local events will be organised by NCMA members and the children and parents they support. This year children will be encouraged to join in with fun walks, toddles and special sporting events. Healthy eating will be promoted with picnics and cookery fun using activity books that can be used by both parents and children.
National Childminding Week is part of National Sure Start Month.
1. The National Childminding Association of England and Wales (NCMA), a membership organisation and national charity, promotes quality home-based childcare for the benefit of children, families and communities. It already speaks on behalf of the 75,000 registered childminders in England and Wales and, now with a new membership package for nannies and other home-based childcarers, increasingly for home-based childcare in England and Wales. NCMA has been supporting the development of quality home-based childcare and promoting its benefits since 1977. For more information about NCMA and its work, visit ncma.org.uk
2. British Heart Foundation (BHF) is leading the battle against heart and circulatory disease - the UK 's biggest killer. The Charity is a major funder and authority in cardiovascular research. It plays an important role in funding education, both of the public and of health professionals, and in providing life-saving cardiac equipment and support for rehabilitation and care. For further information about British Heart Foundation and its work please visit bhf.org.uk
3. National Sure Start Month runs throughout June and once again will be celebrating Sure Start achievements and services available for families throughout England. Visit www.nationalsurestartmonth.com
June 2006
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