Hope for kids to be active

A new series of workshops to get children active is about to roll out in Albany.

Schools, childcare centres and educators are being asked to register their interest for the program run by the University of WA.

The Albany workshops are an expansion of the KIDDO program, which is the biggest program of its kind in Perth.

The roll-out is based on research that indicated children aged between three and eight were falling short of developing skills such as running, jumping, throwing and catching.

UWA KIDDO program director Amanda Derbyshire, from UWA’s School of Human Sciences, said children who did not develop these skills in their youth had less chance of being active when they were adults. “We have seen fantastic results in more than 4000 children who have been involved in the KIDDO program in Perth and we are delighted to bring the workshops to regional WA,” she said.

“Through the Perth program, we saw a 61 per cent improvement in over-arm throwing, and a 13 per cent improvement in general movement skills as well as improved confidence through the eight-week program.”

Schools and childcare centres can contact KIDDO via kiddo.edu.au.