Fun for young with a serious message
Last updated at 13:29, Wednesday, 21 April 2010
WITH a fifth of our primary school children classified as obese, it seems it’s never too early to promote the importance of healthy eating and exercise. But how do you do that among children too young to read?
Two local artists think they have the answer, reports JO DAVIES
HOW do you instil good eating habits in children under seven?
Get Syd and Eric on the case.
Armed with puppets and props the comedy duo, alias Gary Bridgens and Phill Gregg of Headzup, are making a big song and dance about healthy eating and exercise.
Latest reports show that 14.2 per cent of children starting school in Barrow are classified as obese.
That figure rises to a fifth by the time children reach Year Six.
With obesity linked to a myriad of problems in later life, the health of our children should be no laughing matter.
But Gary and Phill have other ideas.
Seeing “Syd” ape a little girl during the retelling of Grimms’ Sweet Porridge fairytale had the children of South Walney in stitches.
Tales, songs, a puppet show and a Tommy Cooper hat routine, make up Ready, Steady .... Grow! – a 60-minute cabaret which aims to promote the importance of healthy eating, activity and exercise.
Establishing good habits when children are most impressionable makes perfect sense to Phill and Gary.
“I’ve worked for younger audiences for the last 20 years doing educative stuff that’s engaging and fun – if it’s presented by likeable characters it will work,” explains Gary.
“These are all traditional stories – tales they know that we’ve put a slightly different spin on – that will have a lasting effect.
“It’s threaded through the comedy so that bits of the show they remember and take away will hopefully subliminally feature some of the messages we want them to act upon.”
The Sweet Porridge tale carries an obvious warning against being greedy and the songs with actions encourage children to participate and be active.
When asked how many portions of fruit and vegetables they should eat a show of hands with palms outstretched indicates that the five-a-day message has been hammered home.
But then Syd confides that he enjoys the occasional burger which allows the pair to discuss “sometimes food”.
“What we talk about is five-a-day and the concept of ‘sometimes food’,” explains Phill.
“You can have something quite unhealthy as long as it’s balanced out.
“You ask the audience if they’ve walked to school or walked home. Most are getting that exercise, but they don’t realise it.”
Gary adds: “You get that (exercise) through play and having fun. We’re not telling anybody not to play video games or don’t have a burger but it’s thinking about the consequences of that and how you can balance it.”
“And all of that for the under sevens,” chips in Phill.
The pair deliberately avoid preaching and have found that their vibrant approach to promoting a good diet and exercise is having an effect.
“One of the things we were told is pester power is really important in a home,” explains Phill.
“What’s happened in other schools is kids have said we don’t have any five-a-day in our lunch box – I will pester my parents when I go home tonight.”
Gary concludes: “It’s all well and good to do entertaining shows and pass on messages to children but what we specialise in is a combination of the two.
“We’ve created a show that’s entertaining, because if you’re going to keep children of this age entertained for an hour it has to be.”
Ready, Steady .... Grow! has been supported, and largely funded, by Barrow Borough Council’s health improvement department.
Over the past week and a half Headzup has visited 20 schools around Barrow, Askam, Dalton, Ireleth and Walney.
It’s initially a two-week tour but Gary and Phill hope to take the cabaret further afield.
The set has been designed to fit into the boot of a car so they hope to liaise with other schools across the county and even export it to other councils.
First published at 09:51, Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
