The ‘Start Strong, Stay Strong’ initiative was launched at My First Skool at 6 New Punggol Road on 26 September 2024.

In September 2024, NTUC First Campus’s My First Skool piloted Singapore’s first preschool nutrition and sustainability education initiative in partnership with FairPrice Group, FairPrice Foundation, Terra SG and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Titled ‘Start Strong, Stay Strong‘, the initiative was officially launched on 26 September 2024 at My First Skool’s preschool centre at 6 New Punggol Road.

The programme consists of three components: ‘Healthy Plate Heroes’, a ‘Take-Home Mission’, and ‘Food Finder Adventure’.

‘Healthy Plate Heroes’ is an interactive classroom session featuring games and group exercises that teach children about the different food groups and essential nutrients that make up a balanced diet. Thereafter, the children will receive a ‘Take-Home Mission’ pamphlet containing instructions for home activities that encourage the exploration of their household’s eating habits and dietary needs, guiding them and their families in making informed nutrition choices. The children will then undergo an experiential trail within a FairPrice supermarket that enables children to apply their classroom knowledge in a real-world setting. Through the trail, children will get to engage in a hands-on learning session about different nutrition labels on food products, and how to pick healthier, better-value food options when grocery shopping with their families.

Upon completing the supermarket trail, each child will receive a nutri-bundle containing fresh fruits, healthy breakfast essentials, and a Stay Strong Recipe Pack with easy, affordable, and nutritious recipes from HealthHub, for families to prepare together. This fosters shared exploration of fresh food and cultivates healthy eating habits within the family unit.

“We are proud to participate in the programmes of FairPrice Group which inculcate healthy eating among our preschoolers. Early childhood is a critical period of growth and development, where children build the foundations for lifelong health and well-being. It is during these formative years that proper nutrition, opportunities for active play, and healthy habits can positively shape a child’s future. In My First Skool, we are cognisant that promoting nutrition and health in young children requires the involvement of parents, caregivers, and communities. Providing education and resources for families about proper nutrition, the importance of physical activity, and emotional well-being is key. By fostering healthy eating habits, encouraging physical activity, ensuring adequate sleep, and supporting emotional well-being, we give children the best start in life,” said Thian Ai Ling, General Manager of My First Skool.

The pilot will benefit 1,000 preschoolers by the end of 2024. In 2025, the programme will be expanded to reach 20,000 children across all 160 My First Skool centres in Singapore. It will also be offered to other operators’ preschools.

Media coverage

Straits Times Online (26 September 2024)

Straits Times Print (27 September 2024)

Business Times Online (29 September 2024)

Business Times Print

Lianhe Zaobao Online (26 September 2024)

Shin Min Daily News (26 September 2024)

8world (26 September 2024)