Barnardos – Hampshire Healthy Steps has been commissioned by Public Health to deliver a free offer for families with children aged 2 to 12 in Hampshire who would benefit from practical help to improve their families health and wellbeing.
The session is delivered across six fun interactive group sessions covering; healthy eating, sleep, oral health and physical activity.
Why is it important?
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Unfortunately, we know that poor nutrition in early childhood has lifelong consequences – children are more likely to face malnutrition, obesity, tooth decay and poorer physical and mental health as they grow.
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20.7% of reception-aged children and 32.2% of Year 6 children in Hampshire are overweight or obese – prevalence in Year 6 ranges from 25.9% in Winchester to 39.5% in Gosport.
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Three in ten children aged 5 to 19 years in Hampshire are ‘less active’, participating in under 30 minutes of exercise a day.
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Around 14% of 5-year-olds in Hampshire have one or more decayed, missing, or filled teeth, ranging from 9.3% in Hart to 18% in the New Forest.
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By working directly with families to understand barriers and set realistic goals, we can support healthier development and reduce the risks linked to poor nutrition, sleep and oral health.