Shared Sharing Practice

Fit Ayrshire Babies

Photo of laughing baby
Fit Ayrshire Babies (FAB), a joint initiative between North, South and East Ayrshire councils, was funded through the Health Improvement Fund (HIF) from April 2001 for three years. The initiative has raised awareness of the benefits of play, physical exercise and social interaction for children under the age of 3 years and their families.

FAB has achieved the objectives set by involving babies, toddlers, parents/carers, childminders and professionals who work with families with young children through:

  • cross-sectoral in-service training
  • workshops for parents/carers
  • distribution of FAB books and FAB bags
  • creating additional opportunities for physical play.

All of these raised awareness of health gains and increased play and physical activity as well as providing opportunities to increase children's and adults' knowledge, skills, confidence and self-esteem.

Outcomes

The evaluation of FAB was based on the following outcomes:

Increased daily exercise and physical play for young children in nurseries/centres and family homes

  • Nursery centres set time aside for physical play on a daily basis.
  • Soft play, swimming and outings are timetabled in long-term nursery plans.
  • Parents/carers across Ayrshire have access to 1000 FAB bags and 5000 FAB books. These resources support and encourage parents/carers to set time aside for physical activities and play.
  • 2337 children were directly involved.

Increased mobility and coordination in very young children

  • Nursery staff have recorded evidence of children's physical development.
  • Children have increased opportunity to develop and consolidate both fine and gross motor skills.
  • Children have greater opportunity to practise these skills in nursery and at home.

Lower instances of obesity in very young children

  • This was an anticipated long-term outcome. However, it has not been possible to chart lower instances of obesity in very young children as systems were not in place at the outset of the project to follow individual/groups of children.
  • The promotion of healthy eating has been an additional dimension to the initiative through the provision of in-service training, parents' workshops and good practice in the centres.
Photo of a baby in a paddling pool

The development of a common cross-sectoral strategy to promote exercise/physical play

  • FAB operated successfully across North, South and East Ayrshire and NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
  • A wide range of agencies and professionals has been involved in the planning and implementation of FAB.
  • The FAB advisory group has representatives from key personnel from education, social work and health.
  • Key personnel from education, social work and health have attended two FAB conferences.

Increased awareness of the long-term benefits of exercise and physical play to young children

  • 404 professionals have attended 22 in-service training sessions.
  • Approximately 182 parent workshops have taken place, involving 901 parents/carers.
  • A range of publicity material has been produced, i.e. pamphlets, videos, DVDs, photographs and banners.
  • 1000 FAB bags are available on loan and 5000 FAB books are in circulation.
  • Evaluations of two successful FAB conferences have been carried out.
  • The Coordinator has attended six major events to promote FAB.
Parents should be given support to gain the necessary skills and confidence to take an active role in helping their children to enjoy an active life.

Let's Make Scotland More Active, para 51

FAB has been received positively by parents/carers and professionals working with families with young children. Play @ home, which influenced the FAB initiative, was quoted as an example of good practice in Let's Make Scotland More Active, June 2002.

The success of this pan-Ayrshire project was recognised in June 2004 when FAB received the Delivering Excellence Award sponsored by the Scottish Executive at the COSLA Excellence Awards.

The way forward

FAB has received a further five years of joint funding from North, South and East Ayrshire councils and Health Improvement Fund. The focus of the initiative over the next five years will be to promote and support FAB activities in antenatal and postnatal classes and groups, breastfeeding support groups and community parent and toddler groups.

With an anticipated annual birth rate of 3500 babies across Ayrshire, it will not be possible to involve every child in FAB. However, the aim is to involve 1000 children under 3 years old each year.

For further information on Fit Ayrshire Babies, please contact:

Margaret Lawson, FAB Coordinator, Springvale Resource Centre, McGillivray Avenue, Saltcoats KA21 6BN.
Telephone: 01294 605885.

Regular physical activity is vital for healthy growth. Being active from an early age can

  • reduce the risk factors for heart and circulatory diseases
  • help prevent weight gain.
  • promote positive mental health.
Let's Make Scotland More Active, para 97

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