Local leaders of early childhood education services gathered in Merimbula on Friday for a conference highlighting the importance of encouraging healthy habits.
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The Munch and Move program is a NSW Health initiative that promotes healthy eating and physical activity in children from birth to five years old. Around 90 per cent of centre-based services in the Southern NSW Local Health District participate in the program.
Professional development conferences like Fridays include guest speakers and display stalls showcasing the variety of activities on offer at local early childhood services.
For example, Rocky Hall Preschool director Jodie Dickinson and Indigenous educator Nathan Lygon were on hand at Club Sapphire to talk conference attendees through the cultural awareness activities the small preschool offers its children.
Munch and Move support officer for the Snowy Monaro Jennifer Mozina said the program celebrated its 10th year in 2018 and was particularly positive about the gorund being covered in the South-East given this area was among the first to pilot it.
Key messages of the program include to get active every day, choose healthier snacks and water as the go-to options, and to limit screen time for young children.
Inspirational visit
The night prior to the conference, Merimbula Tura Kindergarten opened its doors to all of the early childhood educators in the Bega Valley and beyond.
Among the educators were Catharine Hydon from Hydon Consulting, Yeshe Colliver from Macquarie University and Paul Gordon, the Munch and Move NSW state project officer.
The night was organised by Kellie Rosseland, educational leader at Merimbula Tura Kindergarten.
In her opening, Ms Rosseland spoke about how important early childhood education is and how she wishes to develop a network of educators from across settings and services to share best practice and learn from each other.
"The educators in the Bega Valley are exceptional quality and it would be wonderful to share our many talents to continue to provide an exceeding quality of education and care across the entire shire," she said.
Ms Rosseland also thanked the special guests who are some of the most influential names in early childhood for travelling far and wide to join in conversations with the educators about their work.
"It is rare for such wonderful and inspirational names in early childhood to visit the Bega Valley and we are very grateful they chose our dedicated educators to share their knowledge with," she said.
Catharine Hydon, a co-contributor to the Early Childhood Code of Ethics documentation, described the event as a wonderful display of commitment to early childhood education.
Dinner on the night was prepared by Debbie Hodgkin, the owner of Merimbula Tura Kindergarten, with many of the herbs and vegetables coming from the luscious vegie garden at the service.
