Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more The course is designed for the parents and carers of children, childhood educators and childcare workers, as well as anyone considering further study in the fields of child care or public health. You can use the hashtag #FLhealthystart to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

• The complexities and implications of the global obesity epidemic facing children of the 21st century
• The impact of nutrition, physical activity, screen time and sleep on childhood obesity
• Factors influencing a child’s nutrition, physical activity, screen time and sleep (the ecological model)
• Guidelines for understanding what healthy eating means for young children and how to put it into practice
• Practical strategies for promoting healthy eating for children (making fruit and vegetables more attractive, modifying recipes and menus, reducing discretionary foods, and making meal times positive)
• Physical activity milestones, challenges and guidelines for children under five years old
• Strategies for promoting physical activity for children (creating active spaces and opportunities for physical activity in everyday and childcare settings)
• The prevalence and complexities of screen time in the 21st century and its influence on young children
• Guidelines for screen use for children under five years of age
• Strategies for promoting healthy screen time for young children (creating a balance by reducing, maximising and replacing screen time)
• The science behind sleep across the lifespan and how it is measured and regulated
• Guidelines for sleep in young children
• Practical strategies for optimising, prioritising and promoting sleep hygiene