Seaton Sluice First School

Healthy Habits and Routines

Things to think about when packing a packed lunch

•Is the food easy for little ones to eat?

•Are the pieces manageable?

•Is anything a choking risk: for example, pieces of sausage, jelly cubes, chunks of apple, whole cherry tomatoes, popcorn, whole nuts or grapes? Make sure foods are cut into smaller pieces and nuts are only served finely chopped or ground.

•Can children easily see what it is they are eating?

• Will the food travel well? Will it stay in one piece?

•Are the lids on the small containers secure, so that they don’t leak? (That is, the containers for holding meal components such as yoghurt.)

•Is there a fork or spoon for items that are hard to eat with your fingers?

•Are the contents colourful and appetising when the box is open?

•Is there a variety of small amounts of different foods that will tempt small appetites?

•Have children tried the foods at home first so the foods will be familiar to them when they open the lunch box?

Healthy Packed Lunch Recipes

Set a routine

Having a bedtime routine and a set bedtime can help your child to understand what to expect and how they should behave. A routine can begin 30 minutes to two hours before bedtime and can include activities to help wind down, such as a warm bath/shower or reading a story.

Sticking to a set pattern each night will help your child to settle before bed and give them the time to calm down before sleeping. Going to the toilet as the last task before getting into bed can also help prevent your child from needing to get up in the night time.

The table below gives an indication of the amount of sleep most children need on a regular basis to keep them healthy.

Your child's Age	Recommended sleep time in a 24 hour period
Infants 4 - 12 months	12 to 16 hours including naps
Children 1 to 2 years	11 to 14 hours including naps
Children 3 to 5 years	10 to 13 hours including naps
Children 6 to 12 years	9 to 12 hours
Teenagers 13 to 18 years	8 to 10 hours

Sleep and Young Children

Exercise for Children aged 3 to 4yrs

Children should spend at least 180 minutes (3 hours) a day doing a variety of physical activities spread throughout the day, including active and outdoor play. The more the better.

The 180 minutes should include at least 60 minutes (1 hour) of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity.

Children under 5 should not be inactive for long periods, except when they're asleep. Watching TV, travelling by car, bus or train, or being strapped into a buggy for long periods are not good for a child's health and development.

All children under 5 who are overweight can improve their health by meeting the activity guidelines, even if their weight does not change. To achieve and maintain a healthy weight, they may need to do additional activity and make dietary changes.

Find out what you can do if your child is overweight.

Physical activity ideas for under 5s

All movement counts. The more the better.

tummy time
playing with blocks and other objects
messy play
jumping
walking
dancing
swimming
playground activities
climbing
skipping
active play, like hide and seek
throwing and catching
scooting
riding a bike
outdoor activities

Nursery Admissions

Reception Admission