Healthy achievement for Leitchville Pre-School
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Published on 14 July 2021
Leitchville Pre-School has received recognition for completing the Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs priority area of the Healthy Early Childhood Services Achievement Program.
This latest award adds to the achievement in the Healthy Eating/Oral Health, Sun Protection, and Physical Activity and Movement priority areas previously received by the Leitchville Pre-School.
“This latest achievement recognises the commitment of the Leitchville Pre-School to further embed health and wellbeing within the pre-school service and ensure that every child is provided with a great start to life,” Mayor Charlie Gillingham said.
Some of the changes that have been made within the service to achieve recognition for the Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs priority area include:
The adoption of a Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy; Ensuring that No Smoking signage is in place around the facility; Displaying information to encourage healthy behaviours relating to tobacco, alcohol and other drugs; Ensuring all events and activities are strictly smoke, alcohol and drug free; and Engaging the children in age appropriate discussions.Leitchville Pre-School also uses various resources to help guide age-appropriate discussions.
“We use the children's book Dr Dog to highlight that smoking is an unhealthy thing to do, and display child friendly versions of the QUIT campaign material, which promotes discussion with children,” Leitchville Pre-School Educator, Kim Mason said.
“We use intentional teaching through incidental play such as at bush kinder with children using sticks to pretend they are smoking or making beer as a drink in the mud kitchen. We talk to the children about this as a group and use teachings such as ‘you need to be an adult to drink beer’ or ‘a lot of beer is unhealthy for your body’.”
“We also talk about drink driving and have had Victoria Police personnel visit with each child having a go on the breathalyser. This opens up a lot of storytelling and discussion.”
The statewide Achievement Program is supported by the Victorian Government and delivered by Cancer Council Victoria. The program provides a framework to support Victorian workplaces, schools and early childhood services to create healthy places for working, learning and living.
The Leitchville Pre-School is currently working towards the remaining two priority areas of the Achievement Program - Safe Environments and Mental Health and Wellbeing.
ABOVE: Leitchville Pre-School students read Dr Dog, which promotes healthy life choices - including not smoking.