Childhood Obesity Prevention

We had the handover at Upper Room Kindergarten in Ha'ateiho of the School Garden and Childhood Obesity Prevention Project. Ministry of Health hopes by reaching out to the very young children to promote healthy eating and exercise that these children will love exercise and will make good foods choice throughout their life. This would then help reduce the childhood obesity rates in Tonga which approach 60%. LDS Charities helped in 3 preschools this year.

At the Upper Room handover, we chose to set up an obstacle course. We had several of the kindergarten students participate. They appeared to love it, and more children wanted to run the course. I am sure the teachers let them after we left. 










We enjoy working with children. We hope more schools can get playground equipment for the children. There are so many preschools with next to no outdoor large muscle activities. The children need to be able to run and play between times of study. So much is learned through play.

How can you not love these children? They smile, they laugh, they share, they want to have fun, they want to please. What a privilege to have been able to bring this playground equipment to the kindergarteners.

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning, but for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.               Fred Rogers