Health promotion in kindergarten children

A kindergarten, the first public educational institution with the task of bringing up and educating children, is the earliest stage of education in a person's life. Already in that chapter of a child's life the foundations for healthy behaviour are laid. Health promotion in kindergarten children in Saxony follows an integrative approach regarding (1) the integration of everybody involved and (2) regarding intervention in three areas, i.e. nutrition, physical activity and the strengthening of social coping strategies. This article introduces the efforts of the Saxon "Obesity Prevention" team. It is the team's aim to react appropriately to the different needs of all children with the approach of primary prevention. In the end the concept is supposed to achieve concentrated co-operation among children, parents and educators as well as politicians and social decision-makers.