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BC Place – Session 3, Tuesday, May 30, 2006 from 10:30 – 12:00
Abstract Title: Healthy Opportunities for Preschoolers (HOP): Enabling family childcare providers to build foundations for healthy lifestyles
Presenting Author:
Dr. Patti-Jean Naylor
Assistant Professor, School of Physical Education
University of Victoria
PO Box 3015, STN CSC
Victoria, BC V8W 3P1
Additional Authors:
Dr. Viviene Temple
Associate Professor, School of Physical Education
University of Victoria
PO Box 3015, STN CSC
Victoria, BC V8W 3P1
Objective:
To determine the impact of a train-the-trainer model for disseminating a movement skills program for family childcare providers in BC.
Methods:
Family childcare is an influential setting for the development of health promoting behaviours. About half of children in non-family care are in family childcare.
A physical activity and motor skill development resource and training workshop for family childcare was developed in collaboration with the Vancouver Island Health Authority. BC Ministry of Children and Families Development funding supported a provincial train-the-trainer. Childcare resource and referral agencies and public health nurses were recruited (n=40). Training was 16 hours and trainers received manuals, small workshop support grants and committed to deliver workshops in their regions. Trainers and subsequent workshop participants completed pre-post workshop evaluations measuring knowledge, confidence and intention to use what they learned.
Results:
Trainers (n=39) significantly increased their knowledge (p<.0001) and confidence (p<.001) related to providing movement workshops for care providers. Childcare providers trained by the trainers (n =231) increased their knowledge (p<.0001) and confidence in their ability to provide appropriate movement experiences for preschoolers (p<.0001). Participants at both workshop levels were highly satisfied with the training and 86% of care providers intended to use what they learned in their childcare.
Conclusions:
The HOP train the trainer increased confidence of trainers and in turn more than 200 family childcare providers increased their knowledge and confidence in their ability to promote physical activity through appropriate movement experiences. Further evaluation should examine the impact of the training on physical activity levels and motor skill acquisition of children.