Healthy Kids Toolkit Ways to use the promotional postcard seriesAbout the Healthy Kids Toolkit The Healthy Kids Toolkit has simple and practical information about food, nutrition and physical activity, all in one place. It is organised under the topics of pregnancy, babies, early childhood, school age, and young people. It features only Tasmanian programs and resources, developed for Tasmanian families and communities. You will find it at www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/healthykids Follow Healthy Tasmania on Facebook to stay connected and for the latest updates. You can order promotional postcards (six types) and posters (two types) via the Healthy Kids website under useful contacts or email: community.nutrition@dhhs.tas.gov.au Suggested use of the promotional postcards1. Make available in service waiting rooms and community spaces. 2. Give to families directly as part of consultations with health practitioners for

example, child health nurses, oral health nurses, general practitioners (GPs) etc.

3. Use as discussion prompt cards in community group activities.4. At events and family education sessions, for example school or care

orientation packs.

Please note that the promotional postcards and the healthy kids webpages are designed for parents and families to access, not as children’s resources. Following is a table describing each post card (there are six). Each post card contains two questions that we encourage parents to ask a health worker or educator. The table contains suggested answers for each question and the location on the Healthy Kids Toolkit to find out more and suggested resources to view.

Postcard Questions and answers Suggested Healthy Kids Toolkit webpage

Baby How do you know when a baby is ready for solid food?

At around six months but not before four months start to introduce solid food. Keep breastfeeding or giving infant formula when solid food is introduced. It is still baby’s main food and drink. Development signs your baby is ready for food are: they can control their tongue and do not

stick it out when given food they are able to hold their head up they show an interest in food.What solid food can I give my baby?

Start with puree foods and gradually change texture to mash.Start with foods high in iron for example iron fortified cereal, meat, poultry, fish, legumes and tofu. Offer other foods such as vegetables, fruit, cereals, eggs, dairy foods and nut pastes. Foods can be introduced in any order.

Baby pageFeatured Resource

Start Them Right Booklet

Child eating peach with adult

How do we show children how and what to eat?

Helping children learn how to eat by: eating together as a family not talking about your own dislike of some

foods trying not to use food to reward or comfort

a child trying not to talk about a child’s eating

such as calling a child a ‘fussy eater’ not talking about your child’s weight or

size.How many meals and snacks do I feed my child every day?

It is good to offer children food about five times over the day as part of your daily

Baby and early childhood pagesFeatured Resource

Start Them Right Booklet

Postcard Questions and answers Suggested Healthy Kids Toolkit webpage

routine. For example, offer breakfast, lunch and an evening meal, with two snacks in between.

Child drinking water

Is my baby ready for a cup?

Around six months of age is a good time to start to offer small amounts of cooled boiled water.At what age does water become the main drink?

For the first 12 months breast milk (or an infant formula) is the main drink. From 12 months tap water is the main drink for children. Children over one may have up to two cups of full cream cow’s milk over the day.

Baby, early childhood and Healthy Mouth Healthy Body pagesFeatured Resource

Start Them Right Booklet

Child eating from lunchbox

What are some lunchbox food ideas?

• Choose everyday foods from the five food groups - whole grain breads and cereals, vegetables, fruit, meat and alternatives, and dairy and alternatives.

• Leave out sometimes foods like lollies, chips and chocolate.

• Pack a drink bottle of water.• Use an ice pack to keep food cold and safe

to eat.

How do you know how much food to pack?

Be guided by your child’s appetite when deciding how much to pack. Remember every child is different.

Lunch box pageFeatured Program

Move Well Eat Well

Young child playing

What is active play?

Babies and young children move naturally, and it's important to allow them time and space to do this. Active play is activities that involve running, skipping, jumping and climbing. It helps children develop the movement skills

Physical activity pageFollow the Move Well Eat Well website link to the

Postcard Questions and answers Suggested Healthy Kids Toolkit webpage

they need to grow healthy and strong.How can we be active as a family?

Being active as a family helps children establish healthy habits for life and helps them develop movement skills. Suggested ways to be active - go for family walks, go to a park, kick the ball and explore the surroundings.

families page

Featured resource

Being Active Matters

Children at the beach

How do we make movement fun for kids?

Fun games like balloon volleyball or ball games that you can play with children to help them develop different movement skills like catching and jumping.Remember - being active should be about having fun so get ready to praise and encourage children and join in yourself.Exploring the outdoors and doing nature play activities like collecting shells, stones and insects encourages children to move.

How much screen time is ok?

We recommend: no screen time for children under two years less than one hour per day for children two

to five years old.These are not set rules but good to keep in mind.

Physical activity pageFollow the Move Well Eat Well website link to the families page

For more information about the post cards email community.nutrition@dhhs.tas.gov.au