I Move We Move - Good For Kids - NSW Government

2.5
Partnerships with families
Staff in Children's Services form close relationships with parents, carers and the whole family, which
are built on respect and trust. Having good partnerships with families provides an opportunity
for your service to discuss ways to maximise the health and well-being of their child in an open,
non-judgemental and respectful way that supports families in making lifestyle changes. Successful
partnerships with families around physical activity will be facilitated if Children's Services can
communicate effectively with parents/carers and educate them about ways to encourage making
positive changes to physical activity behaviours and engage them in the provision of physical activity
opportunities for children.
Supporting families with communication and education
Communicating effectively with families about physical activity will involve recognising and appreciating
their existing knowledge, experience and also circumstances of the family, and encouraging them
to share their point of view. When providing information to families in relation to physical activity,
you should ensure that it is both relevant to the family and their child and also realistic by taking
into account any challenges that they may face.
Attempts to ensure children develop healthy lifestyle habits are more effective using the whole of
family approach rather than a child centred approach. Therefore, sharing information and working
together with families is a key factor in promoting physical activity in Children's Services.
Communicating with families about physical activity should occur in the same way your service
communicates with families about other aspects of their child’s experience at your service. Use
a variety of methods and tools to assist you communicate with families, such as information in
newsletters, on notice boards or during discussion with parents when they come to pick their child
up. You could include information on children’s daily participation in physical activity and
small screen recreation in an activity chart or your day book.
See Resource 4 (page 2.15) for some newsletter inserts for families
I Move We Move, The Guide Edition 1 August 2009
AREA HEALTH SERVICE