In the autumn of 2025, the training program "A Healthy School Start for Health and Learning" will be launched for the first time. It is aimed at school teams consisting of principals, school nurses, and teachers, offering a structured approach to support families in creating healthy habits.
Hello Liselotte Schäfer Elinder ! What is the background of the training?
- The school start is a golden opportunity to teach children about the importance of good eating habits, physical activity, and sleep - three fundamental factors for both health and learning. Research shows that interventions have a greater effect when they involve the whole family. Over the past ten years, we have developed a universal family support program that has received very positive feedback from school staff, parents - and not least the children themselves!
What can I expect if I attend the training?
- The training is entirely online and aimed at school teams with principals, school nurses, and teachers. Participants will learn about the latest research on how to effectively work in a health-promoting and preventive manner in schools. Additionally, school nurses will receive a 2 and half-day training in motivational interviewing - a method that can be used in many different contexts to support students and parents.
What is unique about this training?
- A major strength is that the training is provided by the researchers who developed the program, and they are available to support the school team during the first year of the implementation phase. Furthermore, participants will have the opportunity to access expert knowledge in areas such as children's health, learning, childhood obesity and stigmatization, and neuropsychiatric disabilities. The training is based on a well-structured manual and a detailed teacher's guide, as well as materials for both children and parents.
About the course "A Healthy School Start for Health and Learning"
"A Healthy School Start" is an evidence-based family support program aimed at promoting healthy living habits and preventing overweight in children. The target group for the training is a team consisting of principals, school nurses, and teachers. The program, which is implemented in preschool class or grade 1, is in line with the school's governing documents and offers a structured approach to support families in creating healthy habits. The course leader is Liselotte Schäfer Elinder, adjunct professor at the Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet.
