Children aged between 3-6 years old have an instinctive need to move and keep active. In fact, at three years of age children are more active than any other age in the human life span (Maude, 2001:37). Yelangi intends to develop a program that incorporates the whole family, and which harnesses the energy of the early years. Through this program, Yelangi intends to develop a holistic program which incorporates healthy lifestyle training and physical education learning experiences. The program will include:

• Indigenous cultural aerobics with Marcus Pedro.
• Swimming once a week under the supervision of a swim instructor.
• Development of an interactive computer game for children which reinforces healthy and active lifestyles.
• " Incorporation of the 'Healthier Lifestyle' Program into our centres service delivery in partnership with QHealth (includes several workshops with both the parents and children to learn the importance of a healthier lifestyle).

In South East Queensland, death rates for A & TSI youth are close to three times higher in males and twice as high in females compared to rates for non-A & TSI youth. From a medical view point, high levels of mental disorders and substance abuse are major contributors to anti social behavior, but causes can also be found in social and economical conditions, high rates of unemployment, the loss of cultural identity and the disaffection of youth in the local community (Moon: 1999). Yelangi is disturbed by this information and wants to partly address the situation through the effective promotion of sport and healthy living to our people starting from the earliest possible age i.e. 3-6.

The Yelangi Board have identified the need for our children and their families to learn more about the need for physical activities together with the health education that will promote longevity of our indigenous community. Part of Yelangi's mission statement is based on the concept of 'Our Children are our future' and we see per children as integral to our culture in the long term. Yelangi is therefore in a perfect position to promote such a program that allows the whole family to participate. Yelangi has identified that 85% of the current 45-50 indigenous children attending Pre School have little to know knowledge of nutrition and 50% live in accommodation that has little or no back yard playground.

The strategies we are using are both combined for their short term and long term effects. Aboriginal aerobics and healthy eating programs along with education for parents is potentially only short term without a tool which can be embedded these healthy habits into a family's long term memory; this is where the interactive game comes in. This project will fund the first in a series of games which will become self funding once we promote its virtue to other indigenous child care centres. Each new game will be more advanced and will gradually cater for a wider age range over time.

Our first workshop was a great success with 11 Indigenous participants (parent's, grandparents, and great grandparent's) and 1 non-indigenous participant.

Elizabeth Marshall and Rachel Rigby Qld Health Nutrition Team from Chermside Indigenous Health, ran a very productive workshop and kept everybody involved for the two hour presentation.

Everybody was intrigued with what exactly is in the food we do eat.
Activity : Using the information in the morning session Move into three groups to develop a menu for breakfast, lunch and Dinner. On completion of task the groups will report this back to the main group.

This was a very good session people were having fun as well as important learning while completing the task.

The opportunity to gather at the Pre-School was invaluable for teachers ,parents and their children. It provided for the networking and relationship building between the Community Developing Officer and Parents.

The cooperative nature of working and talking with one another was still present during this workshop.

This session was to introduce to parents back to school guide for lunches , these topics were discussed with parents:

• Tips on School Lunches
• Lunch Ideas for children who have Lactose Intolerance
• Healthy Sweet treats (Chocolate cake with spinach and carrots)

Cooking demonstrations were conducted during this session.

Active Play for Kindergarten children:
Will be discussed during the year with parents , teachers and children. Raising the awareness and importance of active play discussing of what we do and its effect on the young child.

Eat Well and Be Active Tips for parents and staff:
A Deep Water Running class is organised for parents - twelve people have nominated to be involved.

Scales:
Have been purchased for the Pre-School-
Activity : Regular self weighing and recording own weight for personal records

Enhance and resource a curriculum in which teaching and learning in our schools establishes improved student and parent learning outcomes.
Provide teachers with physical and nutrition information for classroom implementation.

We look forward to updating you again soon with many more exciting news for the coming weeks.