The Minister of Health, Social Services and Equality yesterday presented to the school children of CEIP Escuelas Bosque (Madrid), the initiative 'Activilandia' to promote healthy habits and against childhood obesity. During the event, Ana Mato took the opportunity to Tell children that a balanced diet and physical exercise are healthy habits, but also nice and fun.
Thus, these habits should become habitual (and not exceptional) actions within the daily lives of families. 'Activilandia' is a tool that is expected to reach 14,000 primary schools throughout Spain.
It's about a virtual theme park that promotes healthy eating and active leisure in children from six to 12 years old, and its main objective is to convey that with small changes in lifestyle, great health benefits can be achieved. It turns out that 'Activilandia' also includes informative content for mothers, fathers and educators, who can use the tool as a teaching resource. This aspect is important, considering that in the family and school environment it is where they are formed most life habits.
For the Ministry it is important to influence the importance of healthy habits, since the latest figures indicate that 45% of children aged six to nine are overweight (overweight or obese)
We present Activilandia
And first of all I tell you that 'it is not' a container of video games, nor a conventional digital pastime; but as I have already commented, an informative tool. It takes advantage of all potential of new technologies to promote activities and new behaviors in the life of the users. This new virtual platform combines recreational and educational content in formats such as digital games, videos, music, downloads, 2D and 3D animations, etc.
Advice is given for a varied and balanced diet, games and family activities, at school, in the park with friends, sports, dancing ... It also proposes other healthy habits of hygiene, adequate sleep, etc.
These are the changes that are intended to encourage
Promote healthy nutrition, varied and with fewer calories.
Eat more fruits and vegetables.
Eat less food with added fats and sugars.
Eat less salty foods and foods.
Drinking water As a drink of choice for hydration.
Do a lot of exercise regularly and fun: play moving, running, jumping, cycling, walking to school, etc.
Spend less time sitting games, less hours of computer and television.
Practice sports in family and at school, with friends, so that they find it enjoyable and fun.
'Activilandia' establishes two age targets: from 6 to 9 years old and from 9 to 12. It has 10 “attractions”, three special activities, a contest, seven interactive games, also in “app” version for mobile phones, 12 downloadable PDFs with educational and educational content and nine educational videos, as well as an observatory for families and educators.
The platform will be accessible from the computer, tablet, mobile and even a smart TV.
